Prevalencia de constipación en pacientes adultos mayores atendidos por consulta externa en el Hospital de la Policía Nacional N2 en el periodo mayo 2022 hasta mayo del 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: In Ecuador according to current INEC statistics live 1 '520,590 older adults, they represent 9% of the total population of the country. The prevalence of constipation varies in different studies. However, between 15% and 30% of individuals aged >60 years are diagnosed; its study is important since it is a frequent and often debilitating health problem in older adults. Methodology: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out, compiling information from the database provided by the National Police Hospital N2, including 154 patients diagnosed with constipation and taking into account gender, age group, diet, most frequent complication and relating the different pharmacological treatments. Results: 154 patients were included, of which 57.79% were male and 42.20% were female, with a higher prevalence in older adults between 60 and 74 years of age. Only 37.1% of male patients maintain a diet rich in fiber, 10.8% of women presented fecal impaction, a tendency was observed in women to use laxatives in monotherapy (80%). Conclusion: The prevalence of constipation in the national police hospital N2 was 28.57% and there is a higher proportion of male cases in a ratio of 1.37:1, with an age range between 60 and 74 years. Fecal impaction was the most frequent complication in the female gender with 10.8%.