Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study sample from NHANES 2005–2010 (using the Stool Consistency Definition of Constipation)
| Variable | Constipation (n = 1,052), n (%) | No constipation (n = 12,996), n (%) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | <0.001 | ||
| Male | 341 (32.4) | 6,731 (51.8) | |
| Female | 711 (67.6) | 6,265 (48.2) | |
| Age, years | 0.005 | ||
| <45 | 488 (46.4) | 5,381 (41.4) | |
| ≥45, <65 | 320 (30.4) | 4,455 (34.3) | |
| ≥65 | 244 (23.2) | 3,160 (24.3) | |
| Ethnicity | <0.001 | ||
| Non-Hispanic white | 456 (43.3) | 6,481 (49.9) | |
| Non-Hispanic black | 246 (23.4) | 2,555 (19.7) | |
| Mexican American | 195 (18.5) | 2,350 (18.1) | |
| Other | 155 (14.7) | 1,610 (12.4) | |
| BMI | <0.001 | ||
| Normal | 370 (35.17) | 3,656 (28.13) | |
| Overweight | 347 (32.98) | 4,490 (34.55) | |
| Obesity | 335 (31.84) | 4,850 (37.32) | |
| Education | <0.001 | ||
| <12th grade | 643 (61.3) | 6,669 (51.4) | |
| ≥High school | 406 (38.7) | 6,316 (48.6) | |
| Marital status | <0.001 | ||
| Never married | 279 (26.5) | 3,110 (23.9) | |
| Widowed/divorced | 499 (47.4) | 6,965 (53.6) | |
| Separated | 274 (26.0) | 2,913 (22.4) | |
| Income-poverty ratio | <0.001 | ||
| <2 | 522 (53.8) | 5,439 (45.1) | |
| ≥2 | 449 (46.2) | 6,611 (54.9) | |
| Physical activity | 0.018 | ||
| <500 | 396 (42.7) | 4,506 (38.7) | |
| ≥500 | 532 (57.3) | 7,123 (61.3) | |
| Drinking | <0.001 | ||
| No | 406 (38.7) | 3,526 (27.1) | |
| Yes | 644 (61.3) | 9,462 (72.9) | |
| Smoking | <0.001 | ||
| Never | 606 (57.6) | 6,701 (51.6) | |
| Current | 215 (20.4) | 2,944 (22.7) | |
| Former | 231 (22.0) | 3,346 (25.8) | |
| Diabetes | 0.159 | ||
| No | 910 (86.7) | 11,028 (85.1) | |
| Yes | 140 (13.3) | 1,937 (14.9) | |
| Depression | <0.001 | ||
| No | 915 (87.0) | 11,867 (91.3) | |
| Yes | 137 (13.0) | 1,129 (8.7) | |
| Hypertension | 0.002 | ||
| No | 568 (54.8) | 6,421 (49.9) | |
| Yes | 468 (45.2) | 6,436 (50.1) | |
| Asthma | 0.061 | ||
| No | 886 (84.2) | 11,204 (86.3) | |
| Yes | 166 (15.8) | 1,779 (13.7) | |
| COPD | 0.337 | ||
| No | 930 (93.5) | 11,552 (94.2) | |
| Yes | 65 (6.5) | 710 (5.8) | |
| Vitamin D deficiency | 0.692 | ||
| No | 601 (64.3) | 7,743 (64.9) | |
| Yes | 334 (35.7) | 4,184 (35.1) | |
| Milk | 0.993 | ||
| Never/rarely | 327 (31.1) | 4,018 (30.9) | |
| Occasionally/often | 721 (68.5) | 8,929 (68.7) | |
| Energy, kcal | <0.001 | ||
| Low (0–1,596) | 434 (41.8) | 4,167 (32.6) | |
| Medium (1,596–2,257) | 349 (33.6) | 4,261 (33.3) | |
| High (>2,257) | 256 (24.6) | 4,353 (34.1) | |
| Protein, g | <0.001 | ||
| Low (0–61.3) | 454 (43.7) | 4,150 (32.5) | |
| Medium (61.3–88.4) | 339 (32.6) | 4,268 (33.4) | |
| High (>88.4) | 246 (23.7) | 4,363 (34.1) | |
| Carbohydrate, g | 0.003 | ||
| Low (0–195) | 394 (37.9) | 4,210 (32.9) | |
| Medium (195–277.5) | 335 (32.2) | 4,272 (33.4) | |
| High (>277.5) | 310 (29.8) | 4,299 (33.6) | |
| Total sugars, g | 0.448 | ||
| Low (0–78.4) | 351 (33.8) | 4,255 (33.3) | |
| Medium (78.4–126.9) | 328 (31.6) | 4,277 (33.5) | |
| High (>126.9) | 359 (34.6) | 4,248 (33.2) | |
| Dietary fiber, g | <0.001 | ||
| Low (0–11.7) | 438 (42.2) | 4,148 (32.5) | |
| Medium (11.7–18.2) | 327 (31.5) | 4,281 (33.5) | |
| High (>18.2) | 273 (26.3) | 4,347 (34.0) | |
| Total fat, g | <0.001 | ||
| Low (0–55.6) | 430 (41.4) | 4,173 (32.7) | |
| Medium (55.6–85.5) | 353 (34.0) | 4,254 (33.3) | |
| High (>85.5) | 255 (24.6) | 4,353 (34.1) | |
| Cholesterol, mg | <0.001 | ||
| Low (0–176.5) | 426 (41.0) | 4,176 (32.7) | |
| Medium (176.5–317.5) | 334 (32.2) | 4,263 (33.4) | |
| High (>317.5) | 278 (26.8) | 4,333 (33.9) | |
| Moisture, g | <0.001 | ||
| Low (0–2,101.7) | 465 (44.8) | 4,139 (32.4) | |
| Medium (2,101.7–3,042.7) | 329 (31.7) | 4,278 (33.5) | |
| High (>3,042.7) | 245 (23.6) | 4,364 (34.1) | |
| Polypharmacy | 0.315 | ||
| No | 422 (68.3) | 5,251 (70.2) | |
| Yes | 196 (31.7) | 2,228 (29.8) | |
| Hypertension drugs | 0.005 | ||
| No | 368 (58.506) | 4,080 (52.693) | |
| Yes | 261 (41.494) | 3,663 (47.307) |
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary.
Significant values are shown in bold (p < 0.05).