Key result
Among patients with heart disease, 28% reported symptoms of constipation, with laxative users reporting significantly more constipation compared with non-users.
Why the study?
Constipation in patients with heart disease is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality, but is often overlooked in cardiac care.
Cross-Sectional (n=451)
Yes
Constipation affects over a quarter of patients with heart disease, highlighting a common but often overlooked issue where current management strategies may be suboptimal.
Constipation symptoms are common in heart disease and more frequent with laxative use; leaves open causality and optimal management strategies.
Background: Among patients with heart disease, constipation has been found to be associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. Nonetheless, constipation is often overlooked in cardiac care. Aim: To describe the prevalence of patient-reported symptoms of constipation in patient with heart disease and explore associated factors. Methods: Survey with medical record linkage. Included from a cardiac unit at two urban hospitals were 451 patients. Data included the Constipation Assessment Scale, questions on laxatives and other strategies to maintain regular bowel function. Results: Participants’ mean age was 68 (SD 14), and 62% were male. A total of 28% reported symptoms of constipation. Patients using laxatives or other strategies to maintain regular bowel movements reported significantly more constipation compared with non-users. Conclusions: Constipation was common. Though causal relationships among factors cannot be inferred, data indicate that laxative use and patients’ own strategies may be suboptimal. Keywords constipation heart diseases laxatives constipation assessment scale
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Dahlmann et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in heart disease (n=451). Laxative use or other strategies to maintain regular bowel movements vs. Non-users was evaluated on Patient-reported symptoms of constipation. Among patients with heart disease, 28% reported symptoms of constipation, with laxative users reporting significantly more constipation compared with non-users.
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