Gender differences in the symptoms and findings of patients with intractable constipation

Constipation is a common disorder, affecting 2–28% of the population. The aims of our study were to investigate the clinical characteristics and gender differences of male and female patients with constipation. 56 patients were evaluated with intractable constipation. Diagnosis of constipation was based on Rome criteria. Symptom questionaire, gastrointestinal life quality index, colonoscopy/barium enema, histology, colon transit study, defecography, anorectal manometry were performed.

Results:

	male n=8	female n=48
median age:	58	39
neural origin:	3	0
colorectal stenosis	0	1
Hirschprung's disease	2	1
Slow transit constipation (STC):	3	40
STC caused by myopathy:	0	1
STC caused by other:	3	39
Outlet obstruction:	3	19
defect in sphincter function:	0	25
altered perception:	2	15
presence of incontinence:	1	6
presence of depression:	1	11

Conclusions: Constipation is a common disorder, affecting more women than men. Symptoms starts at earlier age and the prevalence is increasing with age. Slow colonic transit starts at earlier age while outlet obstruction was found mostly in older female patients. Depression often associates with constipation worsening the life quality of female patients.

This work was supported by the grant: ETT550/2003