Table 2.

Characteristics of studies regarding the epidemiology of constipation in Europe, in special populations groups.

First author, year of publication, setting	Type of study	Definition of constipation	Study population (% of responders)	Prevalence per 100	Factors significantly associated with increased odds for constipation	Quality score+	Comments
Lopez Cara MA 2006 Spain [23]	Mailed questionnaire survey	≤ 3 DPW	414 (93) participants > 50 yr, selected by systematic random sampling	4.4	Consumption of olive oil, and meat.	4	F/M 2
Kinnunen 1990 Finland [24]	Interview-questionnaire survey by public health nurse	≤ 3 DPW, difficulties in expelling stools because of the hardness or anal canal abnormalities	5 groups of middle aged and elder population. 1. Hospital: 439 2. Olds people's home: 183 3. Day hospital: 78 4. Home > 74 yrs: 138 5. Home 41–50 yrs: 74	Prevalence per 100 in the 5 groups 1st: females 79, males 81 2nd: females 57, males 64 3rd: females 30, males 25 4th: females 38, males 37 5th: females 20, males 3	Female gender. Fecal and urinary incontinence. Age. Immobility. Living in old people's homes and geriatric hospital. Age over 84 years.	5
Bommelaer 1986 France [25]	Interview-questionnaire survey, performed by a physician.	≤ 3 DPW	1200 participants. Randomized selection among healthy medical and para-medical personnel and medical students. Statistically tested to assure same participation of gender, age and socio-professional groups	6.3	Female gender. Use of laxatives.	3	F/M 1.12
Texerau 1989 France [26]	Interview-questionnaire survey, performed by a gastroenterologist.	Self reported	667 participants in 4 groups. 82 medical students, 206 patients from local health center, 210 adults interrogated in an occupational medicine office and 69 persons from an olds people house.	26		3	F/M 0.96
Chin A Paw M 2006 The Netherlands [27]	RCT investigating the effects of training on constipation, questionnaire study	Defined below*	172 (76.8) participants living in long-term care facilities, 64–94 yr	22		5
Ludvigsson JF 2006 Sweden [28]	Prospective cohort study, questionnaire survey	Reported by parents	8341 (38.4) 2.5-yr-children from a birth cohort	6.5	Low maternal education, female sex, living in a large community, lack of older siblings	3
Iacono G 2005 Italy [29]	Prospective study, data obtained from 150 paediatricians	One bowel movement every 3 days or more	2879 (96) newborns up to six months of age	17.6	Lower frequency of breastfeeding.	4	F/M 1
Miele E 2004 Italy [30]	Prospective study, data obtained from 13 randomly selected paediatricians	Rome criteria for children	9660 children, 0–12 yr	0.7		5	F/M 1.2
Soligo M 2006 Italy [31]	Retrospective survey	Decreased stool frequency, difficult stool passage	786 consecutive urogynecologic patients, average age 60 yr	31.7	Posterior colpocele	4

Abbreviations DPW: defecations per week, F/M: female/male ratio, RCT: randomized controlled trial, Rome criteria for children: in infants and preschool children, at least 2 wk of pebble-like, hard stools for a majority of stools, firm stools 2 or fewer times per week, and no evidence of structural, endocrine, or metabolic disease, *: at least one of less than three bowel movements weekly, hard or lumpy stools, straining on defecation, incomplete evacuation, in the preceding 12 months ⁺: critical appraisal guidelines for research articles determining prevalence, developed by Loney et al¹⁴