Constipation prevalence and risk from prescribed medications in people with intellectual disability: Findings from an English mortality programme.
J Intellect Disabil
; : 17446295241267085, 2024 Jul 19.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39030671
ABSTRACT
Constipation is common in people with intellectual disability, with case reports of associated deaths. Risk factors include lifestyle factors, health conditions, and certain medications. We aimed to explore constipation in a sample of people with intellectual disability who died in 2021. We described prevalence of constipation, causes of death and the risk of secondary constipation from prescribed medications. Medications were scored based on the risk of constipation indicated in the drug profile. Forty-eight percent of the sample had constipation. Half of the sample were prescribed at least two medications that are commonly associated with side effects of constipation. There were high rates of antipsychotic (30%) and laxative (40%) drug prescription. Five people with a history of constipation died of causes of death associated with constipation. Our findings highlight the risk of secondary constipation due to prescribed medication and the seriousness of the condition in people with intellectual disability.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
J Intellect Disabil
Journal subject:
TRANSTORNOS MENTAIS
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom