Idiopathic Constipation can be Subdivided in Clinical Subtypes: Data Mining by Cluster Analysis on a Population based Study
The prevalence of non organic constipation differs
from country to country and the reliability of the estimate rates is
uncertain. Moreover, the clinical relevance of subdividing the
heterogeneous functional constipation disorders into pre-defined
subgroups is largely unknown.. Aim: to estimate the prevalence of
constipation in a population-based sample and determine whether
clinical subgroups can be identified. An age and gender stratified
sample population from 5 Italian cities was evaluated using a
previously validated questionnaire. Data mining by cluster analysis
was used to determine constipation subgroups. Results: 1,500
complete interviews were obtained from 2,083 contacted households
(72%). Self-reported constipation correlated poorly with symptombased
constipation found in 496 subjects (33.1%). Cluster analysis
identified four constipation subgroups which correlated to subgroups
identified according to pre-defined symptom criteria. Significant
differences in socio-demographics and lifestyle were observed
among subgroups.
[1] Study of Medical Prescriptions. Italian Pharmacological Register. (1994)
[2] Johanson JF, Sonnenberg A and Koch TR. Clinical epidemiology of
chronic constipation. J. Clin. Gastroenterol. (1989) 11 525-36.
[3] Walker ARP, Walker BF, Bhamjee D, et al. Defecation frequencies in
black, Indian, coloured and white populations- what do they signify? SA
Med. J. (1982) 62 195-9.
[4] Sandler RS, Drossman DA. Bowel habits in young adults not seeking
health care. Dig. Dis. Sci. (1987) 32 841-5
[5] Everhart JE, Go VLW, Johannes RS, et al. A longitudinal survey of selfreported
bowel habits in the United States. Dig. Dis. Sci. (1989) 34
1143-62.
[6] Sandler RS, Jordan MC, Shelton BJ. Demographic and dietary
determinants of constipation in the U.S. population. Am. J. Public.
Health (1990) 80 185-9.
[7] Hale WE, Perkins LL, May FE, et al. Symptom prevalence in the elderly
: an evaluation of age, sex, disease and medication use. J. Am. Geriatr.
Soc. (1986) 34 333-40.
[8] Whitehead WE, Drinkwater D, Cheskin LJ, et al. Constipation in the
elderly living at home: Definition, prevalence, and relationship to life
style in health status. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. (1989) 37 423-9.
[9] Sonnenberg A, Koch TR. Epidemiology of constipation in the United
States. Dis. Colon Rectum, (1989) 32 1-8.
[10] Pemberton JH, Rath DM, Ilstrup DM. Evaluation and surgical treatment
of severe chronic constipation. Ann. Surg. (1991) 214 403-11
[11] Wald A, Hinds JP, Caruana BJ. Psychological and physiological
characteristics of patients with severe idiopathic constipation.
Gastroenterology (1989) 97 932-7
[12] Talley NJ, Fleming KC, Evans JM, et al. Constipation in an elderly
community: a study of prevalence and potential risk factors. Am. J.
Gastroenterol. (1996) 91 19-25
[13] Talley NJ, Weaver AL, Zinsmeister AR, et al. Functional constipation
and outlet delay : a population-based study. Gastroenterology (1993)
105 781-90
[14] Stewart WF, Liberman JN, Sandler RS, et al. Epidemiology of
constipation (EPOC) study in the United States: Relation of clinical
subtypes to sociodemographic features. Am. J. Gastroenterol (1999) 94
3530-40
[15] Grotz RL, Pemberton JH, Talley NJ, et al. Discriminant value of
psychological distress, symptoms profiles, and segmental colonic
dysfunction in outpatients with severe idiopathic constipation. GUT
(1994) 35 798-802
[16] Kish L. Statistical design for research. New York: John Wiley & Sons,
(1987)
[17] Mc Grady GA, Marrow C, Myers et al. A note on implementation of
random-walk design to study adolescent social network. Soc. Networks
(1995) 17 252-5
[18] Tomassone R, Daudin JJ, Danzart M, Masson JP. Discrimination et
classement. Masson, Paris, (1988)
[19] Johanson JF. Geographic distribution of constipation in the United
States. Am. J. Gastroenterol. (1998) 93 188-91
[20] Campbell AJ, Busby WJ, Horwarth CC. Factors associated with
constipation in a community based sample of people aged 70 years and
over. J. Epidemiol. Commun. Health (1993) 47:23-6
[21] Castle SC. Constipation: Endemic in elderly? Med. Clin. North Am.
(1989) 73 1497-509
[22] Wong ML, Wee S, Pin CH, et al. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors
associated with constipation in an elderly Asian community. Am. J.
Gastroenterol. (1999) 94 1283-91
[23] Donald IP, Smith RG, Cruikshank JG et al. A study of constipation in the
elderly living at home. Gerontology (1985) 31 112-118
[24] Preston DM, Pfeffer JM, Lennard-Jones JE. Psychiatric assessment of
patients with severe constipation. Gut (1984) 25 A582.
[1] Study of Medical Prescriptions. Italian Pharmacological Register. (1994)
[2] Johanson JF, Sonnenberg A and Koch TR. Clinical epidemiology of
chronic constipation. J. Clin. Gastroenterol. (1989) 11 525-36.
[3] Walker ARP, Walker BF, Bhamjee D, et al. Defecation frequencies in
black, Indian, coloured and white populations- what do they signify? SA
Med. J. (1982) 62 195-9.
[4] Sandler RS, Drossman DA. Bowel habits in young adults not seeking
health care. Dig. Dis. Sci. (1987) 32 841-5
[5] Everhart JE, Go VLW, Johannes RS, et al. A longitudinal survey of selfreported
bowel habits in the United States. Dig. Dis. Sci. (1989) 34
1143-62.
[6] Sandler RS, Jordan MC, Shelton BJ. Demographic and dietary
determinants of constipation in the U.S. population. Am. J. Public.
Health (1990) 80 185-9.
[7] Hale WE, Perkins LL, May FE, et al. Symptom prevalence in the elderly
: an evaluation of age, sex, disease and medication use. J. Am. Geriatr.
Soc. (1986) 34 333-40.
[8] Whitehead WE, Drinkwater D, Cheskin LJ, et al. Constipation in the
elderly living at home: Definition, prevalence, and relationship to life
style in health status. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. (1989) 37 423-9.
[9] Sonnenberg A, Koch TR. Epidemiology of constipation in the United
States. Dis. Colon Rectum, (1989) 32 1-8.
[10] Pemberton JH, Rath DM, Ilstrup DM. Evaluation and surgical treatment
of severe chronic constipation. Ann. Surg. (1991) 214 403-11
[11] Wald A, Hinds JP, Caruana BJ. Psychological and physiological
characteristics of patients with severe idiopathic constipation.
Gastroenterology (1989) 97 932-7
[12] Talley NJ, Fleming KC, Evans JM, et al. Constipation in an elderly
community: a study of prevalence and potential risk factors. Am. J.
Gastroenterol. (1996) 91 19-25
[13] Talley NJ, Weaver AL, Zinsmeister AR, et al. Functional constipation
and outlet delay : a population-based study. Gastroenterology (1993)
105 781-90
[14] Stewart WF, Liberman JN, Sandler RS, et al. Epidemiology of
constipation (EPOC) study in the United States: Relation of clinical
subtypes to sociodemographic features. Am. J. Gastroenterol (1999) 94
3530-40
[15] Grotz RL, Pemberton JH, Talley NJ, et al. Discriminant value of
psychological distress, symptoms profiles, and segmental colonic
dysfunction in outpatients with severe idiopathic constipation. GUT
(1994) 35 798-802
[16] Kish L. Statistical design for research. New York: John Wiley & Sons,
(1987)
[17] Mc Grady GA, Marrow C, Myers et al. A note on implementation of
random-walk design to study adolescent social network. Soc. Networks
(1995) 17 252-5
[18] Tomassone R, Daudin JJ, Danzart M, Masson JP. Discrimination et
classement. Masson, Paris, (1988)
[19] Johanson JF. Geographic distribution of constipation in the United
States. Am. J. Gastroenterol. (1998) 93 188-91
[20] Campbell AJ, Busby WJ, Horwarth CC. Factors associated with
constipation in a community based sample of people aged 70 years and
over. J. Epidemiol. Commun. Health (1993) 47:23-6
[21] Castle SC. Constipation: Endemic in elderly? Med. Clin. North Am.
(1989) 73 1497-509
[22] Wong ML, Wee S, Pin CH, et al. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors
associated with constipation in an elderly Asian community. Am. J.
Gastroenterol. (1999) 94 1283-91
[23] Donald IP, Smith RG, Cruikshank JG et al. A study of constipation in the
elderly living at home. Gerontology (1985) 31 112-118
[24] Preston DM, Pfeffer JM, Lennard-Jones JE. Psychiatric assessment of
patients with severe constipation. Gut (1984) 25 A582.
@article{"International Journal of Medical, Medicine and Health Sciences:53862", author = "Mauro Giacomini and Stefania Bertone and Carlo Mansi and Pietro Dulbecco and Vincenzo Savarino", title = "Idiopathic Constipation can be Subdivided in Clinical Subtypes: Data Mining by Cluster Analysis on a Population based Study", abstract = "The prevalence of non organic constipation differs
from country to country and the reliability of the estimate rates is
uncertain. Moreover, the clinical relevance of subdividing the
heterogeneous functional constipation disorders into pre-defined
subgroups is largely unknown.. Aim: to estimate the prevalence of
constipation in a population-based sample and determine whether
clinical subgroups can be identified. An age and gender stratified
sample population from 5 Italian cities was evaluated using a
previously validated questionnaire. Data mining by cluster analysis
was used to determine constipation subgroups. Results: 1,500
complete interviews were obtained from 2,083 contacted households
(72%). Self-reported constipation correlated poorly with symptombased
constipation found in 496 subjects (33.1%). Cluster analysis
identified four constipation subgroups which correlated to subgroups
identified according to pre-defined symptom criteria. Significant
differences in socio-demographics and lifestyle were observed
among subgroups.", keywords = "Cluster analysis, constipation, data mining, statistical analysis.", volume = "2", number = "6", pages = "201-7", }
