Abstract

CARNEIRO, Rita de Cássia Martins da Silva et al. Intestinal constipation in the elderly and its association with physical, nutritional and cognitive factors. Aletheia [online]. 2018, vol.51, n.1-2, pp.117-130. ISSN 1413-0394.

Human aging is an increasingly present reality in postmodern society. With the aging process the gastrointestinal tract undergoes changes. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of intestinal constipation in the elderly of a municipality in the northwest of Paraná and to identify the associated factors. It is a cross-sectional descriptive study with 377 elderly people, living in a municipality in the northwest of Paraná. For data collection, the Criteria of Rome III, Mini Exam of the Mental State, Mini Nutritional Assessment, International Questionnaire of Physical Activity and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used. It was observed that 23.34% of the elderly had intestinal constipation and the elderly female sex, the use of drugs, poor self-reported health, poor cognitive performance and sedentary lifestyle were significantly associated. It is concluded that the prevalence of intestinal constipation in the elderly is high.

Keywords : Intestinal constipation; aging, sedentary lifestyle; health promotion.

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