Diagnoctic Yield of Colonoscopy in Chronic Constipation: Comparative Study According to the Age

Aims Constipation can be the expression of an organic or functional disease. A colonoscopy is required for patients with chronic constipation resistant to symptomatic treatments or with alarm symptoms.The aim of this work was to assess the value of colonoscopy in the exploration of chronic constipation according to the patient’s age.

Methods This is a comparative retrospective study including all patients who had a colonoscopy for the exploration of chronic constipation between 2017 and 2018. The patients were divided into two groups:

Groups 1 (G1): included patients less than 50 years old.

Groups 2 (G2): included patients over 50 years old

We compared the epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic data between the two groups.

Results A total of 190 cases were included. The mean age was 61.5 years (21-97 years) . G1 included 44 patients (23 %) while G2 included 146 patients (77 %). A family history of colorectal cancer was found in 15 cases (G1: 5 vs G2: 10; p = 0.146). Constipation as the sole symptom was more frequent in G2 (G1: 20,5 % vs G2: 35 %; p=0,029). Colonoscopy was normal in 54 % (G1: 66 % vs.G2: 50 %). When it was pathological, it showed: recto-colic polyps in 28 % (G1: 18 % vs G2: 31 %), colonic diverticulosis in 14 % (G1: 7 % vs G2: 16 %), colorectal neoplasia in 9 % (G1: 7 % vs G2: 10 %), solitary rectal ulcer in 1 % (G1: 0 % vs G2: 1.3 %) and angiodysplasia in 3 % of cases (G1: 0 % vs G2: 4 %). In univariate analysis, we found an association between age> 50 years and a pathological colonoscopy (p = 0.025). Rectal bleeding was associated with pathologic colonoscopy (p = 0.011). The presence of polyps was higher in G2 (p = 0.041).

Conclusions In our study, colonoscopy indicated for chronic constipation in elderly (>50 years) is associated with high diagnostic yield especially when associated with rectal bleeding.

Citation: Bradai S, Khsiba A, Medhioub M etal. eP299 DIAGNOCTIC YIELD OF COLONOSCOPY IN CHRONIC CONSTIPATION: COMPARATIVE STUDY ACCORDING TO THE AGE. Endoscopy 2021; 53: S196.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 March 2021