A population-based epidemiologic study of bowel habits in Guangdong province / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the bowel habits and its perceptions in the general population of Guangdong province. Methods Random clustered sampling involving permanent inhabitants aged 18-80 year was carried out under stratification of urban and suburban areas in Guangdong province. Questionnaire included the items on the characteristics of people being selected and their bowel habits. Results A total of 4103 residents (male 1878, female 2225) were investigated. Mean age among the responders was 42.81 ± 14.13 year. Among 4056 subjects (missing =47 ), 2972 subjects (73.3%) reported daily defecation, and 3951 subjects (97.4%) reported stool frequency between 3 times per week and three times per day. Two hundred and seventy subjects (6.6%) reported abnormal bowel habits by themselves. The stool frequency (OR=2.03, 95% CI1.54-2.67) , forms of stool (OR=2.75, 95% CI 2.35-3.22) and straining (OR=3.56, 95% CI2.49-5.11) were significantly associated with self-reported abnormal bowel habits. Among 3949 subjects (missing= 154), 644 (16.3%) were defined as having abnormal bowel habits according to Rome Ⅱ criteria. There was poor agreement between self-reported abnormal bowel habits and that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria (Kappa=0.312). Conclusion It seemed to be appropriate that the normal stool frequency was defined as bowel movements between 3 times per week and three times per day in the general population. The prevalence of self-reported abnormal bowel habits was lower than that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria and the agreement between these two definitions was poor.