Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32062960›Full record

ArticleKorean journal of family medicine2020

Chronic Constipation in the Elderly Patient: Updates in Evaluation and Management.

Amir Mari, Mahmud Mahamid, Hana Amara, Fadi Abu Baker, Afif Yaccob

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Korean journal of family medicine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
29citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.7field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

29 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 57 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Nutrition Focused Physical Examination Components Specific to Older Adults: A Modified Delphi Study.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2025
    Article
  11. Probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in the elderly individuals.World journal of gastrointestinal pharmacology and therapeutics · 2025
    Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. An abdominal vibration combined with walking exercise (AVCWE) program for older patients with constipation: Development and feasibility study.Saudi journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association · 2024
    Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Amir MariGastroenterology Institute, Nazareth EMMS Hospital, Nazareth, Israel.
Mahmud MahamidGastroenterology Institute, Nazareth EMMS Hospital, Nazareth, Israel.
Hana AmaraGastroenterology Institute, Nazareth EMMS Hospital, Nazareth, Israel.
Fadi Abu BakerGastroenterology Institute, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
Afif YaccobGastroenterology and Liver Disease Department, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel.
Bar-Ilan University · ILHillel Yaffe Medical Center · ILRambam Health Care Campus · IL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Chronic constipation (CC) is a common disorder in the elderly population globally and is associated with comorbidities and negative implications on the quality of life. Constipation prevalence varies in different studies, primarily owing to the nonuniformity of the diagnostic criteria. However, 15%-30% of individuals aged >60 years are diagnosed with CC. Primary care physicians are the main healthcare providers that manage constipation in elderly patients in parallel with increased population aging and increased prevalence of constipation. Physical inactivity, polypharmacy, chronic medical conditions, rectal hyposensitivity, and defecatory disorders all play a role in the pathogenesis of CC in elderly patients. Detailed anamnesis, particularly history related to chronic medication use, with digital rectal examination may assist in identifying constipation causes. Additionally, blood tests and colonoscopy may identify organic causes of CC. Physiologic tests (i.e., anorectal manometry, colonic transit time with radiopaque markers, and defecography) can evaluate the physiologic function of the colon, rectum, and anus. However, generally, there are several causes of constipation in older patients, and an individualized approach is recommended. Treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation is empiric, based on the stepwise approach. Lifestyle advice, adjustment of chronic medications, and prescription of laxatives are the first steps of management. Several laxatives are available, and the treatment is evolving in the last decade. Biofeedback is an effective therapy especially for defecatory disorders. This review aimed to summarize the most updated knowledge for primary care physicians in the approach and management of CC in elderly patients.

Indexed as

ApproachChronic ConstipationElderlyManagementPrimary Care PhysiciansTreatment

Identifiers

PMID32062960
PMCPMC7272371
OpenAlexW3008533877

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.