ArticleThe American journal of gastroenterology2020
Chronic Constipation in the United States: Results From a Population-Based Survey Assessing Healthcare Seeking and Use of Pharmacotherapy.
Article in The American journal of gastroenterology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 74 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fiber intake and laxation in people with normal bowel function: a systematic review.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Gastroenterological disorders and hepatic disease in adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Prevalence and Risk Factors of Functional Constipation According to the Rome Criteria in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2022Pooled it
- Impact of resistant starch type 3 on fecal microbiota and stool frequency in Thai adults with chronic constipation randomized clinical trial.Scientific reports · 2024Trial
- Development of a Simple, Point-of-Care Device to Test Anorectal Function in Patients with Constipation: Randomized Clinical Trial.Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association · 2023Trial
- Management of constipation: A narrative review of evolving strategies and methodological challenges.World journal of methodology · 2026Review
- Impact of Constipation on Quality of Life, Work Productivity, and Treatment Practices: Findings from the CONNECT Web-Based Survey.Digestion · 2026Article
- Bali Chronic Constipation Roundtable Report: Chronic Constipation Management in Asia.Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility · 2026Article
- The impacts of ready-to-eat-cereals and cereal fibers on gut health, body weight, and cardiometabolic health.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Treatment Patterns, Perceptions, Barriers, and Costs in Patients With Chronic Idiopathic Constipation in the United States.Gastro hep advances · 2026Article
- Antegrade Continence Enema vs. Botulinum Toxin in Pediatric Chronic Idiopathic Constipation: A 10-Year Retrospective Study at a Single Center.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Review
- Association between blood lead levels and constipation in adults: insights from NHANES data (2005-2010).BMC gastroenterology · 2025Article
- Beyond the gut: The overlooked impact of constipation on functional mobility and quality of life in community-dwelling elders - a cross-sectional study.Geriatrics & gerontology international · 2025Article
- Association between body roundness index and constipation using data from NHANES 2005-2010.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Article
- The Association of moisture intake and constipation among us adults: evidence from NHANES 2005-2010.BMC public health · 2025Article
- A Hard Problem: Managing Constipation in the Geriatric Population.HCA healthcare journal of medicine · 2025Review
- Association between dietary vitamin B2 intake and constipation: a nationwide cross-sectional study.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- The Efficacy of Lubiprostone in Patients of Constipation: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesChronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) is characterized by unsatisfactory defecation and difficult or infrequent stools. CIC affects 9%-20% of adults in the United States, and although prevalent, gaps in knowledge remain regarding CIC healthcare seeking and medication use in the community. We recruited a population-based sample to determine the prevalence and predictors of (i) individuals having discussed their constipation symptoms with a healthcare provider and (ii) the use of constipation therapies.
methodsWe recruited a representative sample of Americans aged 18 years or older who had experienced constipation. Those who met the Rome IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome and opioid-induced constipation were excluded. The survey included questions on constipation severity, healthcare seeking, and the use of constipation medications. We used multivariable regression methods to adjust for confounders.
resultsOverall, 4,702 participants had experienced constipation (24.0% met the Rome IV CIC criteria). Among all respondents with previous constipation, 37.6% discussed their symptoms with a clinician (primary care provider 87.6%, gastroenterologist 26.0%, and urgent care/emergency room physician 7.7%). Age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, employment status, having a source of usual care, insurance status, comorbidities, locus of control, and constipation severity were associated with seeking care (P < 0.05). Overall, 47.8% of respondents were taking medication to manage their constipation: over-the-counter medication(s) only, 93.5%; prescription medication(s) only, 1.3%; and both over-the-counter medication(s) and prescription medication(s), 5.2%. DISCUSSION: We found that 3 of 5 Americans with constipation have never discussed their symptoms with a healthcare provider. Furthermore, the use of prescription medications for managing constipation symptoms is low because individuals mainly rely on over-the-counter therapies.
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Registered trials
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.