OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of constipation after stroke and explore the relationship between post-stroke constipation and brain injury.

METHODSUsing a self-designed questionnaire, we collected the general information of 723 inpatients from 10 hospitals in Guangzhou, including the general demographic information, related factors of brain injury, defecation and previous history.

RESULTSThe total incidence of post-stroke constipation was 34.6% in these patients. The incidence of constipation was 31.0% in ischemic stroke patients, 44.8% in hemorrhagic stroke patients, and 47.4% in patients with cerebral hemorrhage and infarction, showing a significant difference between stroke types (χ(2)=12.369, P=0.002). In terms of stages following stroke, the incidence was 41.6% in the acute phase, 31.5% in the recovery phase, and 22.6% in the sequelae phase. In light of lesion locations, the incidence was significantly higher in patients with basal ganglia involvement than in those without (P<0.001). Logistic multivariate analyses showed that stroke type, post-stroke stage, lesion number and basal ganglia involvement were significantly associated with the incidence of constipation.

CONCLUSIONConstipation often occurs in the acute stage following stroke (especially hemorrhagic stroke), and the incidence is higher in patients with basal ganglia involvement.