Critical new report uncovers the true burden of constipation in the over 65s across Europe

Date: Sep-10-2013A new report The Burden of Constipation in our Ageing Population - Working Towards Better
Solutions uncovers for the first time, the true scale of the problem of chronic constipation in
adults over the age of 65. A group of experts has analysed all publicly available European
evidence and the alarming results show how this condition is under-estimated, under-treated
and overlooked.

The report reveals how chronic constipation, be it functional or secondary to identifiable
causes, affects as much as 80 per cent of the older adult population living in care homes and
one in five adults aged over 65 years in the community.[1-3] If left untreated, it can result in
serious medical consequences, such as faecal impaction, a condition where retention of
solid faeces prevents normal evacuation. Faecal impaction can affect up to 50 per cent of
older adults in hospital wards or care homes and can lead to faecal ticles/165408.php" title="What Is Urinary Incontinence? What Causes Urinary Incontinence?">incontinence.[4-6] The
research included in the report clearly highlights how the absence of preventative strategies
for constipation has a significant impact on quality of life of older people. It also illustrates the
unnecessary ill-health caused through sub-optimal management of this condition and the
clear unmet need to address this unacceptable problem.

The impact of constipation on quality of life is significant and comparable to that of more
recognised conditions such as diabetes, osteoarthritis or osteoporosis in terms of physical
and psychological impact.[7] Constipation not only results in a reduced quality of life of older
adults, but is also associated with significant economic costs relating to nursing time,
investigation, intervention, medication and on-going management by health and social
services.[8-11] With the proportion of over-65s rising and estimated to reach 29.5 per cent of
the total population in the European Union by 2060, this situation is only set to get worse.[12]

The experts reached and issued a six key priority consensus with practical recommendations
that they believe will make a positive and immediate difference to the way chronic
constipation in older adults living in care homes or the community is diagnosed and treated:
Functional constipation should not be underestimated or trivialised and should not simply
be considered as an inevitable consequence of ageing or frailty

Chronic constipation should be classified and recognised as a condition in its own right,
not just a set of symptoms associated with other disorders
Recognition and awareness of the typical symptoms and causes of constipation, as well
as understanding how to effectively prevent and treat it, should be a training priority
across the whole multi-disciplinary team and for social care professionals working with
older people

Constipation needs to be better diagnosed so it can be promptly treated and managed
more effectively in line with agreed best practice and recognised standards
The taboo nature of constipation needs to be addressed amongst the general public such
that older people start to feel more comfortable and less embarrassed about selfreporting suspected constipation, knowing that they will be taken seriously and always treated with respect
Highlight the true cost of failing to effectively manage constipation in older people, in
terms of economic and societal burden to health services, as well as the cost in terms of
individual suffering and reduction in quality of life.

Another important finding that emerged is the lack of agreement among healthcare
professionals, other healthcare providers, policy makers and also patients on the appropriate
diagnosis and management of constipation, as well as distinct gaps in the availability of
guidance and guidelines across Europe. Evidence-based guidance does exist, for example,
from The Netherlands, Great Britain, Italy and Germany; however, these either focus only on
children and young people or incontinence rather than constipation specifically.

David Sinclair, Assistant Director, Policy & Communications, ILC-UK comments: "Despite
estimated figures of 80 per cent of care home residents suffering from constipation, this is a
problem in older adults that is clearly not being taken seriously enough. We hope this report
will provide a lever to improve earlier recognition of constipation and, importantly, to
encourage all those involved in the care of older adults to take the positive and immediate
steps outlined in this report that will lead to improved care."

Professor Enrico Corazziari, Professor of Gastroenterology, University "La Sapienza",
Rome, Italy comments on the report: "Constipation can be a source of real mental and
physical distress for older adults. The lack of evidence-based guidance on the management
of constipation in older adults across Europe means that management is sub-optimal;
patients are suffering unnecessary ill-health and failing to receive appropriate or timely
treatment. We hope that the calls to action outlined in this new report generate urgent
impetus for a wholesale review of how we manage this common and preventable condition."

Peter Martin, Chief Operating Officer at Norgine comments: "As a company with long
standing expertise in gastroenterology, we are committed to improving the quality of life of
patients who suffer from constipation. By funding this report, in collaboration with the ILC-UK,
we want to work with healthcare systems across Europe to find cost effective solutions to
improve outcomes for patients."

A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.