Bowel habits in routine check-up subjects.
- Author:
Seong Gook JEON
1
;
Chong Il SOHN
;
Jee Eun KIM
;
Jae Eum PARK
;
So Ra PARK
;
Ki Ho PARK
;
Il Soon HWANG
;
Eun Joo KIM
;
Chang Young PARK
;
Byeong Ik KIM
;
Woo Kyu CHEON
;
Eul Soon JUNG
;
Poong Lyul RHEE
;
Jong Chul RHEE
;
Kyoo Wan CHOI
;
Hwa Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
epidemiology;
constipation;
laxative
- MeSH:
Constipation;
Defecation;
Epidemiology;
Female;
Health Promotion;
Humans;
Laxatives;
Male;
Prevalence;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
1999;57(1):36-41
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: To estimate bowel patterns in the Korean, we surveyed routine check-up subjects about their bowel habits, using self-reported questionnaire. METHODS: We analyzed 2939 subjects (male 1430, female 1509; age range 25 - 65 years) who had visited health promotion center for routine check-up. Subjects were given a validated self-report questionnaire, which measured the defecation frequency; stool consistency; self-report of constipation; straining to defecate; and levels of laxative use. RESULTS: Of the whole subjects 96.4% had defecation frequency between three per week and three per day. The prevalence of two or less bowel movements per week (4.1% compared to 0.6%), straining to defecate (20.8% compared to 13.0%) and hard stool (18.0% compared to 9.3%) was higher in women than men (p<0.01). The prevalence of self-reported constipation was higher in women than men (9.0% compared to 2.9%, p<0.01). Women were more likely to use laxatives than men (5.5% compared to 0.6%, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Defecation frequency in most of routine check-up subjects is between three per week to three per day. Bowel dysfunction is a greater problem in women.
