Table 3.

Risk factors for the development of constipation in the elderly in different care settings

Community dwelling [2, 28, 77, 78]	Hospitalized acute care [79–83]	Long-term care [84–88]	Hospice care [89, 90]
Abdominal pain	Comorbidities	Chewing problems	Cancer (e.g., trachea, bronchus, lung)
BMI ≥ 25	Acute exacerbation of COPD	Comorbidities	Dependence on caregivers
Lower urinary tract symptoms	Cerebrovascular events	Arthritis	Insufficient food and fluid intake
Medications	Chewing difficulties	Anorexia nervosa	Nonmalignant comorbidities
Acetaminophen ≥7 tablets/week	Spinal cord lesions	CV disease	Circulatory
Antiparkinsonian drugs	Medications	Cognitive impairment	Cardiac
Aspirin or NSAIDs	Antimuscarinic drugs	Parkinson disease	Last pain score ≥ mild
Diuretics	Antiparkinsonian drugs	Pneumonia	Respiratory
Opioid analgesics	Diuretics	Postoperative pain (immobility)	Poor performance status
Tricyclic antidepressants	Hypnotics	Presence of allergies	Toileting facilities (e.g., lack of privacy)
	Muscle relaxants	Decreased fluid intake (<5 glasses/day)
	NSAIDs	Dependence on caregivers
	Opioids	Inadequate dietary fiber
	Statins	Medications
		Antacids
		Acetaminophen
		Anticholinergic drugs
		Antidepressants
		Calcium channel antagonistsa
		Diuretics
		Histamine H2 receptor antagonists
		NSAIDs
		Opioid analgesics
		Polypharmacy (>5−7 drugs)
		Poor nutritional assessment
		Sedentary lifestyle
		Toileting facilities (e.g., lack of privacy)

BMI body mass index, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, CV cardiovascular, NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

^aOther than verapamil and nifedipine