Prevalence and risk factors of constipation and pollakisuria among older home‐care patients

Abstract

Aim: The prevalence of constipation and prevalence of pollakisuria among older patients receiving home medical care have not been reported, and risk factors for these symptoms are not clear in this setting. The present study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors of constipation and pollakisuria among older patients receiving home medical care in Japan. Methods: This study utilized data from patients in the Observational Study of Nagoya Elderly with Home Medical Care (n = 153). We carried out univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with the presence of constipation or pollakisuria as the dependent variable to evaluate the relationships between constipation or pollakisuria and several covariates. Results: The prevalence of constipation and pollakisuria were 56.9% and 15.7%, respectively. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that constipation was associated with Charlson Comorbidity Index score, polypharmacy and pollakisuria, and pollakisuria was associated with constipation and insomnia. Cardiovascular disease was inversely associated with constipation. Conclusions: The prevalence of constipation among home‐care patients was as high as that reported for nursing home residents and higher than that among community‐dwelling individuals. Clinicians should be aware of increased constipation risk among home‐care patients, particularly for those with a high Carlson Comorbidity Index score, polypharmacy and/or pollakisuria. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 277–281.