Cross cultural comparison of constipation profiles at tertiary care centers between India and USA

Conclusions and InferencesIndian patients with CC have more frequent and softer bowel movements compared to those in the USA suggesting significant differences in perception of CC in different geographic and cultural settings. QOL and economic impact related to constipation varies with geographic/cultural setting irrespective of other clinical and psychosomatic features. Ours is the first study with head‐to‐head comparison of clinical profile, psychosomatic burden, constipation‐related symptoms severity, constipation specific quality of life and economic impact of chronic constipation between Indian and US patients presenting to tertiary care centres with chronic constipation. We found that Indian patients had significantly higher stool frequency and softer stool consistency (consistent with faster colonic transit) compared to US counterparts. We also showed that constipation‐related quality of life not only depends on symptom severity, psychiatric burden but also site of study (Site of study being USA was independent predictor of inferior quality of life). Nevertheless, after adjusting for other covariates, Indian patients had higher direct and indirect healthcare expenditures with increased work absenteeism due to constipation‐related symptoms and higher number of healthcare visits for constipation compared to their US counterparts.
Source: Neurogastroenterology and Motility - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research