Relationship among Self-evaluated Degree of Constipation, Defecation Frequency and Use of Laxatives

Though patient self-evaluation and defecation frequency are important parameters of constipation, the relationship between them and the use of laxatives had not been clarified. In this study, we investigated these parameters for inpatients on admission (N=117). They were divided into three groups according to whether their self-evaluation was“Constipated”, “Occasionally constipated”or“Not constipated”, with the defecation intervals being 2.2±0.8, 2.0±0.9, and 1.1±0.5 days, respectively, and the use of laxatives 57.0%, 16.7%, and 7.8%, respectively. While the difference in defecation frequency between the Constipated and Occasionally constipated groups was not significant (P=0.80), the defecation frequencies in both of these groups were significantly lower than in the“Not constipated”group (P<0.0001). Use of laxatives was significantly related to patients self evaluation of their degree of constipation. Our results suggest that the similar defecation frequencies in the“Constipated”and the“Occasionally constipated”groups were due to high laxative use in the“Constipated”group. Thus, having patients evaluate their degree of constipation themselves seems to affect their behavior and also defecation frequency.