Constipation and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Dementia

Chien-Liang Chen, Tzu-Ming Liang, Hsiu-Hui Chen, Yan-Yuh Lee, Yao-Chung Chuang and Nai-Ching Chen
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Chien-Liang Chen: Division of Nephrology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan
Tzu-Ming Liang: Nutrition Therapy Department, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan
Hsiu-Hui Chen: Physical Education, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
Yan-Yuh Lee: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Yao-Chung Chuang: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Nai-Ching Chen: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-11

Abstract: Constipation is one of the most frequent non-motor problems in older adults. As constipation is commonly ignored by dementia patients, it is not usually reported on time. Constipation has a serious impact on the activity of daily living and quality of life in dementia patients. The relationships between constipation, demographic variables, and the nutritional status of patients with dementia remain unknown. This study aimed to assess the possible factors associated with constipation. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from January to November 2019. This hospital is a medical center and the main referral hospital of southern Taiwan, serving 3 million inhabitants. In total, 119 patients with dementia were evaluated using the Rome III diagnostic criteria for functional constipation. There were 30 patients with dementia included in the constipation group and 89 patients with dementia included in the no constipation group. Mini-Nutritional Assessment and 3-day diet diary records were employed. The clinical dementia rating score was used to evaluate the severity of dementia in patients of the outpatient clinic. Approximately 25.2% of dementia patients had constipation. Patients in the dementia with constipation group were older, had severer dementia, and displayed a lower water intake. After multivariable adjustment, low liquid consumption was the predictor of constipation among patients with dementia. The findings support the clinical recommendations to treat constipation with an increased liquid intake, but not exercise, in dementia patients.

Keywords: dementia; Mini-Nutritional Assessment; constipation; fiber; water; diet diary record (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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