Table 2.
Stool frequency and stool form, defecation situation, and abdominal pain based on questionnaire responses
| Variables | All subjects | CC | CC | p value (IBS vs non-IBS) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBS | Non-IBS | ||||
| Stool frequency | 0.009 | ||||
| Less than once in 3 days | 280 (2.6%) | 137 (29.3%) | 4 (19.0%) | 133 (29.8%) | |
| Once in 3 days | 655 (6.1%) | 164 (35.1%) | 6 (28.6%) | 158 (35.4%) | |
| Once in 2 days | 1,593 (14.9%) | 111 (23.8%) | 5 (23.8%) | 106 (23.8%) | |
| Once a day | 5,470 (51.3%) | 42 (9.0%) | 2 (9.5%) | 40 (9.0%) | |
| Twice a day | 1,860 (17.5%) | 6 (1.3%) | 2 (9.5%) | 4 (0.9%) | |
| Three times a day | 551 (5.2%) | 3 (0.6%) | 1 (4.8%) | 2 (0.4%) | |
| More than 4 times a day | 193 (1.8%) | 3 (0.6%) | 1 (4.8%) | 2 (0.4%) | |
| Stool form based on BSFS | 0.17 | ||||
| Type 1 | 329 (3.1%) | 125 (26.8%) | 3 (14.3%) | 122 (27.4%) | |
| Type 2 | 350 (3.3%) | 126 (27.0%) | 6 (28.6%) | 120 (26.9%) | |
| Type 3 | 1,335 (12.5%) | 121 (25.9%) | 6 (28.6%) | 115 (25.8%) | |
| Type 4 | 6,706 (62.9%) | 59 (12.6%) | 2 (9.5%) | 57 (12.8%) | |
| Type 5 | 1,546 (14.5%) | 24 (5.1%) | 2 (9.5%) | 22 (4.9%) | |
| Type 6 | 307 (2.9%) | 9 (1.9%) | 2 (9.5%) | 7 (1.6%) | |
| Type 7 | 21 (0.2%) | 1 (0.2%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (0.2%) | |
| Defecation situation | |||||
| Straining during ≥one-fourth of defecation episodes | 1,700 (16.0%) | 275 (58.9%) | 14 (66.7%) | 261 (58.5%) | 0.505 |
| Lumpy or hard stools during ≥one-fourth of defecation episodes | 2,096 (19.7%) | 366 (78.4%) | 16 (76.2%) | 350 (78.5%) | 0.788 |
| Sensation of incomplete evacuation during ≥one-fourth of defecation episodes | 2,694 (25.3%) | 305 (65.3%) | 19 (90.5%) | 286 (64.1%) | 0.017 |
| Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage during ≥one-fourth of defecation episodes | 572 (5.4%) | 149 (31.9%) | 12 (57.1%) | 137 (30.7%) | 0.016 |
| Manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation during ≥one-fourth of defecation episodes | 304 (2.9%) | 79 (16.9%) | 4 (19.0%) | 75 (16.8%) | 0.767 |
| Fewer than three spontaneous bowel movements per week | 1,093 (10.3%) | 316 (67.7%) | 13 (61.9%) | 303 (67.9%) | 0.634 |
| Above symptoms present for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months prior | 598 (5.6%) | 467 (100.0%) | 21 (100.0%) | 446 (100.0%) | NA |
| Abdominal pain occurring, on average, at least 1 day per week for the last 3 months | |||||
| Abdominal pain related to defecation | 1,868 (17.5%) | 148 (31.7%) | 21 (100.0%) | 127 (28.5%) | <0.001 |
| Abdominal pain associated with a change in stool frequency | 646 (6.1%) | 81 (17.3%) | 17 (81.0%) | 64 (14.3%) | <0.001 |
| Abdominal pain associated with a change in stool form (appearance) | 935 (8.8%) | 67 (14.3%) | 14 (66.7%) | 53 (11.9%) | <0.001 |
| Above symptoms present for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months prior | 156 (1.5%) | 34 (7.3%) | 21 (100.0%) | 13 (2.9%) | <0.001 |
CC, chronic constipation; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; BSFS, Bristol Stool Form Scale; NA, not applicable.