Objective: To investigate the incidence of constipation after stroke and explore the relationship between post-stroke constipation and brain injury.
Methods: Using a self-designed questionnaire, we collected the general information of 723 inpatients from 10 hospitals in Guangzhou, including the general demographic information, related factors of brain injury, defecation and previous history.
Results: The total incidence of post-stroke constipation was 34.6% in these patients. The incidence of constipation was 31.0% in ischemic stroke patients, 44.8% in hemorrhagic stroke patients, and 47.4% in patients with cerebral hemorrhage and infarction, showing a significant difference between stroke types (χ(2)=12.369, P=0.002). In terms of stages following stroke, the incidence was 41.6% in the acute phase, 31.5% in the recovery phase, and 22.6% in the sequelae phase. In light of lesion locations, the incidence was significantly higher in patients with basal ganglia involvement than in those without (P<0.001). Logistic multivariate analyses showed that stroke type, post-stroke stage, lesion number and basal ganglia involvement were significantly associated with the incidence of constipation.
Conclusion: Constipation often occurs in the acute stage following stroke (especially hemorrhagic stroke), and the incidence is higher in patients with basal ganglia involvement.