Constipation in older adults

Bailes, Barbara K.; Reeve, Kathleen

doi:10.1097/01.npr.0000431882.25363.5f

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Prevention of constipation should be considered in the early management of hip fracture patients. It is a common problem in this population (Neighbour, 2014) particularly among older adults in long-term care facilities who may take laxatives on a daily basis (Bailes & Reeve, 2013). Common contributors to constipation include; dehydration, immobility, poor fluid intake, decreased dietary fiber and general changes to normal dietary routines.…”

Section: Risk Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The International Collaboration of Orthopaedic Nursing (ICON): Best practice nursing care standards for older adults with fragility hip fracture

Meehan

Maher²,

Brent

et al. 2019

International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing

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Sarcopenia is age-related loss of muscle mass and strength with resulting decrease in function that affects balance, gait, and overall ability to perform tasks of daily living. Decline in skeletal muscle mass begins around age 30 with a significant acceleration after age 65, accompanied by a concomitant reduction in muscle strength (Curcio, et al., 2016). Muscle strength is a critical component of walking and its decrease in the older adult contributes to a high prevalence of falls (Dhillon & Hasni, 2017). Early recognition and intervention can modify some of these detrimental outcomes. Some major risk factors for sarcopenia include; lack of exercise, age-related decreases in hormone concentrations and a decrease in the body's ability to synthesize protein, combined with inadequate caloric and/or protein intake (Dhillon & Hasni, 2017). Acute and chronic illnesses raise the risk level. Screening for sarcopenia may not be routine in many clinical practices. However, screening for impairment in physical function and activities of daily living (ADL's) should be routine for all older adults. Individuals with impaired ADLs and those who describe a noticeable decline in function, strength, or overall health status should have more specific testing for sarcopenia (Brown & McCarthy, 2015). The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older people (EWGSOP), in their consensus document, outlined an algorithm to aid the screening and diagnosis of sarcopenia (Cruz-Jentoft, et al., 2010).

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Section: Risk Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…People experience the symptoms of constipation differently and it is influenced by both cultural and psychological factors (Bailes & Reeve, 2013). Constipation can manifest at any point along a continuum that ranges from general gut discomfort, headache,…”

Section: Assessment/detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The International Collaboration of Orthopaedic Nursing (ICON): Best practice nursing care standards for older adults with fragility hip fracture

Meehan

Maher²,

Brent

et al. 2019

International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing

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“…A common complaint of elderly people is constipation [62]. If a similarly reduced CD occurs in the colon of older people, perhaps this could contribute to their costive bowel problems.…”

Section: Other Areas With Reduced CD and Diminished Agmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Capillaries in the Lesser Ailments of Old Age and in Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia: The Potential of Pro-Therapeutic Angiogenesis

Ambrose

2016

JAD

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Apart from chronic diseases (arthritis, diabetes, etc.), old age is generally characterized by three lesser ailments: muscle weakness, minor memory lapses, and cold intolerance. This trio of complaints may have a common, underlying cause, namely, the age-associated reduced microcirculation in muscles, brain, skin, and elsewhere in the body. The Angiogenesis Hypothesis proposes that old age is in part a deficiency disease due to the decline in angiogenic (AG) factors, resulting in a reduced capillary density (CD) throughout the body. Over fifty published papers document waning levels of AG factors and/or decreased CD in various organ systems of aged animals and people, including those with Alzheimer's disease. The deficiency of AG factors is analogous to that of certain hormones (e.g., testosterone) whose blood levels also decline with age. In theory, therapeutic angiogenesis employing recombinant AG factors is a tenable treatment for the lesser ailments of old age and may improve the later years of human life. An optimal administration route may be intranasal.

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“…Generally, in hospitals, nurses assess constipation in older people who have difficulty communicating their constipation symptoms accurately, based on the hardness of stool and bowel movement frequency, and choose bowel-related nursing care, such as laxative or suppository administration or digital disimpaction [ 8 ]. However, in home-care settings, constipation may be difficult to assess in older people by observing feces because visiting nurses cannot always observe the feces directly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fecal Distribution Changes Using Colorectal Ultrasonography in Older People with Physical and Cognitive Impairment Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Longitudinal Observational Study

et al. 2018

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Nurses encounter difficulties evaluating constipation in elderly people with physical and cognitive impairment. Transabdominal ultrasonography (US) has been used to evaluate fecal impaction or fecal quality. However, it is unclear whether colorectal US can evaluate constipation symptoms in older people. Using colorectal US, we continuously observed the elderly and clarified the relationship between patterns of fecal distribution changes and constipation symptoms in older people with physical and cognitive impairment at long-term care facilities. This study included patients aged ≥65 years with oral intake. US was performed once a day until the next defecation, and fecal hardness was assessed. US images were extracted and categorized. Then, patterns of fecal distribution changes in the colorectum were classified. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine related factors associated with a constipation pattern. Among 101 patients, US images of 95 patients were analyzed. In 74.4% of the patients, US showed continuation of reflection with acoustic shadow in the rectum, which was significantly associated with defecation on the bed. Of the patients with a continuous crescent-shaped reflection pattern (R3), 92.9% had hard stool. R3 was found to be significantly associated with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of ≤10. In most of the patients, US detected a continuation of reflection with acoustic shadow in rectal patterns, indicating fecal retention in the rectum. Point-of-care US can be used by nurses to visualize rectal fecal retention as constipation patterns in the older people with physical and cognitive impairment at long-term care facilities.

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Constipation in older adults

Abstract: Constipation is a common complaint in the general population, particularly among older adults. Patients present with infrequent bowel movements or difficulty passing stools. Management of this uncomfortable condition involves diet, fluid intake, and medications.

Cited by 10 publications

References 14 publications

The International Collaboration of Orthopaedic Nursing (ICON): Best practice nursing care standards for older adults with fragility hip fracture

The International Collaboration of Orthopaedic Nursing (ICON): Best practice nursing care standards for older adults with fragility hip fracture

The Role of Capillaries in the Lesser Ailments of Old Age and in Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia: The Potential of Pro-Therapeutic Angiogenesis

Fecal Distribution Changes Using Colorectal Ultrasonography in Older People with Physical and Cognitive Impairment Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Longitudinal Observational Study

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