<p>Risk of cancer in patients with constipation</p>

Abstract

Background: It remains unclear whether constipation is associated with cancer. We evaluated the risk of malignancies in patients with constipation requiring hospitalization. Methods: Using Danish medical registries, we calculated cumulative incidences and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancer. SIRs were computed as the observed number of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and selected non-GI cancers in patients with constipation compared with the expected number based on national incidence rates by sex, age, and calendar year (1978–2013). Results: We identified 1,75,901 patients with constipation (59% females, median age 54 years). The cumulative incidences of GI cancers and non-GI cancers after 15 years of follow-up were 2.5% and 2.6%, respectively. During the first year of follow-up, the SIR for any GI cancer was 5.0 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.8–5.3), driven by colon and pancreas cancers and higher for younger age groups. Beyond 1 year of follow-up, the risk declined to near unity for colorectal cancer. The risk of other GI cancers (including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas) remained moderately increased (overall SIR =1.3, 95% CI: 1.2–1.4). Except for ovarian cancer (SIR =7.3, 95% CI: 6.3–8.4), the risk of non-GI cancers was only slightly increased during the first year of follow-up and declined to unity thereafter. Conclusions: Patients with constipation had increased short-term risk of a diagnosis of GI cancer. Beyond 1 year of follow-up, a moderately elevated risk persisted only for GI cancers other than colorectal cancer. The risk of non-GI cancers was elevated only during the first year of follow-up, particularly for ovarian cancer.

Prevalence of constipation in adults with obesity class II and III and associated factors

“…Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and more than thirteen types of cancer [ 21 , 23 , 24 ]. Constipation is also a risk factor for cancer [ 25 ], especially gastrointestinal cancer, including esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver and pancreas [ 9 , 26 , 27 ]. Obesity is associated to constipation, but it is not recognized as a causal factor of constipation.…”

Observation on the Efficacy of Shouhui Tongbian Capsule in the Treatment of Functional Constipation and Study on Its Regulatory Effect on Intestinal Flora

“…Constipation not only causes common anal diseases such as anal fissure and hemorrhoids, but also causes the occurrence and development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In severe cases, it can also cause colon cancer, which is life-threatening [8][9][10].…”

Constipation and risk of cardiovascular diseases: a Danish population-based matched cohort study

“…39 Such a mechanism may explain the association between constipation and disease development in distant cardiovascular beds and underlie our observation of an increased risk of myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke and peripheral arterial disease. In a recent paper, 40 a positive association between constipation and various gastrointestinal cancers has been established. This may partly explain our observation of a much higher risk of splanchnic venous thrombosis than deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.…”