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. 2015 Apr 10;15:44. doi: 10.1186/s12877-015-0041-0

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.