Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42026391›Full record

ArticleIrish journal of medical science2026

Understanding constipation in stroke patients with dysphagia: incidence, risk factors, and management strategies-a scoping review.

Sheila Robinson, Kate McCarthy, Irene Hartigan

Abstract readScoping Review
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In one paragraph

Article in Irish journal of medical science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Sheila RobinsonSpeech & Language Therapy Department, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, T12 DC4A, Ireland. Sheila.robinson@hse.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0895-8999
Kate McCarthyCork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork T12 DC4A, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4707-2792
Irene HartiganSchool of Nursing & Midwifery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork, College Road, Cork, T12 V821, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3043-5764

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundConstipation and dysphagia are common complications among stroke survivors, impacting quality of life, recovery, and rehabilitation outcomes. Dysphagia can lead to decreased fluid and fibre intake, which, combined with reduced mobility, increases the risk of constipation. While each condition has been studied independently, there is limited research focusing on their co-occurrence and management in post-stroke populations.

aimsThis scoping review aims to examine the incidence, risk factors, and management strategies for constipation in stroke patients with dysphagia, synthesizing current knowledge to inform clinical practice and future research.

methodsUsing the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo and CINAHL databases for peer-reviewed studies published between 2003 and December 2024. Studies were eligible if they included adult stroke patients with both constipation and dysphagia and reported on incidence, risk factors, or management strategies.

resultsSeven studies, including retrospective and prospective cohorts, were reviewed. The incidence of constipation varied widely (4.4 to 70%), with higher rates in dysphagia patients. Key risk factors included dysphagia severity, decreased fluid and fibre intake, low functional independence, and comorbid conditions. Management strategies, including modified diets, hydration support, and interdisciplinary interventions, were discussed. However, variations in diagnostic criteria and study designs limited comparability.

conclusionsConstipation is a significant concern in stroke patients with dysphagia, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary care approaches that address fluid, dietary, and mobility challenges. Further research into the relative contribution of dysphagia to post-stroke constipation is needed, as well as how best to manage same, and the impact of constipation on patients' quality of life.

Indexed as

ConstipationDeglutition DisordersStrokeHumansIncidenceQuality of LifeRisk FactorsConstipationDysphagiaMultidisciplinaryRehabilitationStroke

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Registered trials

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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.