Original scientific paper
Demographic, Anthropometric and Socioeconomic Characteristics of Functional Constipation in Eastern Croatia
Barbara Ebling
; »J.J. Strossmayer University«, Osijek University Hospital, Internal Clinic, Osijek, Croatia
Saša Gulić
; University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Department of gastroenterology and hepatology, Internal Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia
Dragan Jurčić
; University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Department of gastroenterology and hepatology, Internal Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia
Miran Martinac
; University of Zagreb, »Sveti Duh« University Hospital, Department of Abdominal Surgery, Surgical Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia
Rudika Gmajnić
; »J. J. Strossmayer University«, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
Ante Bilić
; University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Department of gastroenterology and hepatology, Internal Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia
Sanda Pribić
; »J. J. Strossmayer University«, School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
Maja Tolušić Levak
; »J. J. Strossmayer University«, School of Medicine, Department of Histology and embriology, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
Aim of the research is to establish the prevalence of constipation in Osječko-baranjska County, to establish its specific characteristics and to determine the effect of demographic, anthropometric and socioeconomic factors. It is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2010. on systematic sample of 900 subjects between 20 and 69 years of age. Every subject was sent an invitation letter and a Rome III diagnostic questionnaire for one of the disorders. A scoring algorithm was used to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of functional constipation. The chi-square test (χ2 test), t-test and logistic regression were used for analysis. The prevalence of constipation in our study was 22.19%, which is higher than the prevalence in most other countries, where it ranges from 5% to 18%. In our study statistically significant variables were: place of current residence (urban), education level (high school), marital status (divorced people), a larger number of household members and a lower health status by self-assessment. According to t-test persons with constipation on average are older, have higher average BMI and lower average grade valued financial status of households and their health. There were a greater number of subjects that had at least one alarm symptom or some of the psychosocial factors and they often suffered from a chronic disease. Functional constipation presents a significant health problem. Rome III survey questionnaire proved to be an acceptable method for diagnosing this functional disorder in clinical-consilliary and primary health care, and for persons showing signs of alarm and needing further diagnostic treatment.
Keywords
constipation; prevalence; risk factors; Eastern Croatia
Hrčak ID:
127558
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2014.
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