Constipation cohort, n=83 239 | Comparison cohort, n=8 32 384 | |
Median age, years (25th–75th percentile) | 46.5 (8.6–69.8) | 46.5 (8.6–69.8) |
Age groups, years | ||
<55 | 47 645 (57.2) | 476 547 (57.3) |
55–64 | 9440 (11.3) | 94 572 (11.4) |
65–74 | 10 877 (13.1) | 108 741 (13.1) |
≥75 | 15 277 (18.4) | 152 524 (18.3) |
Male | 34 138 (41.0) | 341 374 (41.0) |
Year of constipation diagnosis/index date | ||
2004–2008 | 30 751 (36.9) | 307 510 (36.9) |
2009–2013 | 52 488 (63.1) | 524 874 (63.1) |
Type of constipation diagnosis | ||
Primary diagnosis | 54 074 (65.0) | – |
Secondary diagnosis | 29 165 (35.0) | – |
Type of hospital contact for constipation | ||
Inpatient | 44 851 (53.9) | – |
Outpatient | 38 388 (46.1) | – |
Constipation-related conditions | ||
Hypothyroidism | 1226 (1.5) | 6167 (0.7) |
Hyperthyroidism | 1244 (1.5) | 9463 (1.1) |
Pregnancy within 90 days of the index date | 678 (0.8) | 2629 (0.3) |
Depression | 2237 (2.7) | 6921 (0.8) |
Parkinson’s disease | 644 (0.8) | 1856 (0.2) |
Multiple sclerosis | 588 (0.7) | 1477 (0.2) |
Colon, rectal and anal cancer | 3459 (4.2) | 7005 (0.8) |
Other gastrointestinal cancers | 1901 (2.3) | 1037 (0.1) |
Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, paralytic ileus | 3873 (4.7) | 8892 (1.1) |
Cardiovascular risk factors | ||
Chronic pulmonary disease | 23 204 (27.9) | 163 581 (19.7) |
Valvular heart disease | 946 (1.1) | 6590 (0.8) |
Diabetes mellitus | 5366 (6.4) | 33 563 (4.0) |
Hypertension | 8929 (10.7) | 54 132 (6.5) |
Hypercholesterolemia | 1826 (2.2) | 10 972 (1.3) |
Obesity | 3340 (4.0) | 17 399 (2.1) |
Chronic kidney disease | 1220 (1.5) | 5062 (0.6) |
Liver disease | 1308 (1.6) | 4428 (0.5) |
Alcoholism-related disorders | 2776 (3.3) | 10 832 (1.3) |
Drugs associated with constipation* | ||
Iron supplements | 128 (0.2) | 87 (0.0) |
Opioids | 17 172 (20.6) | 30 089 (3.6) |
Calcium channel blockers | 5445 (6.5) | 49 499 (5.9) |
Anticholinergic drugs | 366 (0.4) | 998 (0.1) |
Dopaminergic drugs | 1041 (1.3) | 4064 (0.5) |
Tricyclic antidepressants | 2328 (2.8) | 5471 (0.7) |
Diuretics | 9967 (12.0) | 69 706 (8.4) |
Aspirin | 6000 (7.2) | 49 569 (6.0) |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | 10 154 (12.2) | 52 753 (6.3) |
Cardiovascular drugs* | ||
Vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants | 298 (0.3) | 2637 (0.3) |
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers | 8078 (9.7) | 81 854 (9.8) |
Beta-blockers | 3854 (4.6) | 38 630 (4.6) |
P2Y12 inhibitors | 353 (0.4) | 2019 (0.2) |
Digoxin | 293 (0.4) | 2800 (0.3) |
Amiodarone | 22 (0.0) | 52 (0.0) |
Nitrates | 978 (1.2) | 5477 (0.7) |
Statins | 5549 (6.7) | 53 432 (6.4) |
Data are reported as n (%) unless otherwise specified.
*Redeemed prescription within ≤90 days before the index date.