ArticleBMC geriatrics2019
Constipation and laxative use among people living in nursing homes in 2007 and 2013.
Article in BMC geriatrics, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum in Reducing Constipation in Long Term Care Facility Residents: A Randomized Single-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial.The journal of nutrition, health & agingTrial
- Association Between CT-Based Rectal Stool Attenuation and Activities of Daily Living in Hospitalized Older Adults.Geriatrics & gerontology international · 2026Article
- Texture-modified diets in long-term care facilities: assessing adherence to nutrition standards.JAR life · 2026Article
- Prevalence of Opioid Use in Nursing Homes Over the Last Decade: A Systematic Literature Review.The Journal of pharmacy technology : jPT : official publication of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians · 2024Article
- Continuous laxative use and its relationship to defecation among residents of nursing homes: A longitudinal observational study using the interRAI.Geriatrics & gerontology international · 2024Observational
- Thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal dysmotility: an old association.Frontiers in physiology · 2024Review
- The Burden and Treatment of Chronic Constipation Among US Nursing Home Residents.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · 2023Article
- Review
- Association Between Regular Laxative Use and Incident Dementia in UK Biobank Participants.Neurology · 2023Article
- Medication use in Italian nursing homes: preliminary results from the national monitoring system.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Article
- Prevalence of constipation and use of laxatives, and association with risk factors among older patients during hospitalization: a cross sectional study.BMC gastroenterology · 2022Article
- Laxative use in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease transitioning to dialysis.Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association · 2021Article
- Pharmacological Pain Treatment in 2012 and 2017 Among Older People with Major Neurocognitive Disorder.Drugs & aging · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundConstipation is a common condition among older people, particularly among people living in nursing homes, and the use of drugs such as opioids is one of many factors that contribute to its high prevalence. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of constipation and the use of laxatives between 2007 and 2013, to analyze constipation and laxative use among people who are prescribed opioids, and to identify factors associated with constipation.
methodsIn 2007 and 2013, two surveys were performed in the county of Västerbotten in Northern Sweden, comprising all those living in nursing homes. The Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale was used to collect data regarding laxative, opioid and anticholinergic drug use, functioning in activities of daily living (ADL), cognition and symptoms of constipation. A comparison was made between 2820 people from 2007 and 1902 people from 2013.
resultsThe prevalence of symptoms of constipation among people living in nursing homes increased from 36% in 2007 to 40% in 2013. After controlling for age, sex, ADL, cognitive impairment and use of opioid and anticholinergic drugs, this difference was found to be statistically significant. When controlled for demographic changes, there was a statistically significant difference in the regular use of laxatives between the respective years, from 46% in 2007 to 59% in 2013. People prescribed opioids and anticholinergic drugs were at increased risk of constipation, while people with a higher ADL score were at decreased risk. Further, among people prescribed opioids and rated as constipated, 35% in 2007 and 20% in 2013 were not prescribed laxatives for regular use, a difference that was found to be statistically significant.
conclusionsThe prevalence of symptoms of constipation increased between 2007 and 2013. Although there was a decrease between the years, there were still a number of people being prescribed with opioids and rated as constipated who were not treated with laxatives. This study therefore indicates that constipation remains a significant problem among people in nursing homes and also indicates that those prescribed opioids could benefit from an increased awareness of the risk of constipation and treatment, if required.
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