Table 1.
Characteristics of cases with lower defecation frequency (DF) a and controls among hospitalized older adults
| Variables b | Cases (N = 406) | Controls (N = 670) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean age (yr) ± SD | 79.0 ± 8.2 | 79.9 ± 8.3 | 0.104 |
| Female | 260 (64%) | 440 (66%) | 0.586 |
| White | 404 (99.5%) | 663 (99%) | NA |
| Admitted from nursing homes | 60 (15%) | 127 (19%) | 0.080 |
| Ex-smoker | 94 (23%) | 137/667c (21%) | 0.313 |
| Current smoker | 53 (13%) | 70/666c (11%) | 0.205 |
| Medical History | |||
| CAD | 139 (34%) | 217 (32%) | 0.532 |
| COPD | 122 (30%) | 215 (32%) | 0.484 |
| Diabetes | 130 (32%) | 197 (29%) | 0.366 |
| CHF | 83 (20%) | 172 (26%) | 0.051 |
| Depression | 95 (23%) | 182 (27%) | 0.171 |
| Stroke | 58 (14%) | 108 (16%) | 0.420 |
| Cognitive impairment | 51 (13%) | 114 (17%) | 0.05 |
| Medications | |||
| Muscle relaxant | 17 (4%) | 11 (2%) | 0.016‡d |
| Anti-cholinergic drugse | 88 (22%) | 180 (27%) | 0.056 |
| Calcium channel blocker | 87 (21%) | 129 (19%) | 0.338 |
| Potassium supplement | 74 (18%) | 189 (28%) | <0.001‡ |
| Calcium supplement | 64 (16%) | 143 (21%) | 0.024‡ |
| Iron supplement | 26 (6%) | 79 (12%) | 0.004‡ |
| Oral laxativesf | 44/261 (17%) | 111/458 (24%) | 0.021‡ |
| Antibiotic use prior to Admission | 32 (8%) | 102 (15%) | <0.001‡ |
| Proton pump inhibitor | 152 (37%) | 266 (40%) | 0.460 |
| Diuretics | 178 (44%) | 336 (50%) | 0.045‡ |
| Narcotics | 106 (26%) | 175 (26%) | 0.999 |
| NSAIDS | 52 (13%) | 73 (11%) | 0.343 |
| Anti-cholinergic | 51 (13%) | 90 (13%) | 0.681 |
| Bronchodilators | |||
| β2 agonists inhalers | 81 (20%) | 149 (22%) | 0.375 |
| Steroid inhalers | 51 (13%) | 73 (11%) | 0.407 |
| Acute diagnosis g of hospital stay | |||
| Pneumonia | 81 (20%) | 126 (19%) | 0.644 |
| AECOPD | 66 (16%) | 81 (12%) | 0.054 |
| Acute CHF | 52 (13%) | 81 (12%) | 0.729 |
| Admission blood tests | |||
| Potassium (mmol/L) | 4.1 ± 0.6 (N = 405) | 4.1 ± 0.6 (N = 668) | 0.993 |
| Calcium (mg/dL) | 9.1 ± 0.6 (N = 400) | 9.1 ± 0.6 (N = 665) | 0.520 |
| Albumin (gm/dL) | 3.2 ± 0.53 (N = 343) | 3.2 ± 0.52 (N = 600) | 0.416 |
aPatients with less than 3 days of hospital stay were excluded. Lower DF was defined as having either an average DF ≤ 1/3 per day or no defecation in the first 3 days during hospital stay.
bData are presented as number (%) or mean ± SD unless indicated otherwise.
cInformation on ex-smoke and current smoking status was not documented in three and four patients, respectively, of the control group.
dCalculated by Fisher’s exact test.
eAnticholinergic drugs included antipsychotics, H1 antihistamines, antimuscarinic receptor blocker, and antispasmodic drugs.
fInformation on oral laxative use was only available in 261 of 406 (64%) patients in the case group, and in 458 of 670 (68%) patients in the control group.
gOnly the three major diagnoses were listed.
‡ Significant (p < .05).
Abbreviations: CAD coronary artery disease, CHF congestive heart failure, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, AECOPD Acute exacerbation of COPD, NA not applicable, NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, SD standard deviation.