Factors Associated with Functional Constipation among Students of a Chinese University: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Functional constipation (FC) is prevalent worldwide and is an increasingly prominent problem among university students. However, there is a paucity of research on FC in university students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of FC among Chinese university students by the Rome III criteria and investigate its associated factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted by online questionnaires among 929 university students at a Chinese university. Food consumption was assessed with the Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ) and dietary patterns were analyzed using factor analysis. A binary logistic regression model was applied to clarify FC-associated factors. The prevalence of FC among university students was 5.1%. Interestingly, among university students, the prevalence of FC with “complex” dietary pattern was significantly higher than those with “vegetable, fruit, egg and milk-based” and “livestock and aquatic product-based” dietary pattern (9.9% vs. 3.1% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of FC was significantly higher among university students with moderate to severe sleep disorders than those with the other sleep status (χ2 = 18.100, p < 0.001). Furthermore, after adjusting the covariates, “complex” dietary pattern (OR = 4.023, p < 0.001), moderate to severe sleep disorders (OR = 3.003, p = 0.006), overeating (OR = 2.502, p = 0.032), long mealtime (>30 min) (OR = 6.001, p = 0.007), and poor defecation habits (OR = 3.069, p = 0.042) were positively associated with FC among university students. Based on the above-associated factors for FC, improving dietary patterns and sleep status and developing good bowel and dietary habits are essential to prevent and alleviate university students’ FC.

Prevalence and associated factors of chronic constipation among Japanese university students

“…Based on Rome criteria, another recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that pooled prevalence of CC was 15.3% using Rome I, 11.2% using Rome II, 11.4% using Rome III, and 10.1% using Rome IV ( 7 ). Previous studies on college and university students in China and Tunisia reported that the prevalence of CC ranged from 5.1 to 11.4%, which was lower than our finding ( 20 – 22 ). However, a higher prevalence (23.9%) of CC was found in the Australian adult population ( 23 ).…”

Development and Performance Analysis of Machine Learning Methods for Predicting the Occurrence of Constipation and its Risk Factors Responsible Among College Going Girl

“…Eighteen variables were included as potential predictors in the current investigation. The predictors were developed using many published studies on FC in young people or college-bound students [19,22]. Age, BMI, and the ve criteria for the ROME-III categorization of FC (the last two were taken because the question of "Manual maneuvers on > 25% of defecations" received no response and was therefore removed from the data set) Too-small bowel movement frequency, bleeding or tearing in the colon during or following a bowel movement, abdominal pain and discomfort, Bristol's Scale of Stool Consistency, Exercise Frequency: "Do you exercise?"…”