Constipation is a commonly reported gastrointestinal complaint and can be effectively managed with laxatives or purgatives.

This survey spanning 7 countries was performed to collect data on the incidence of constipation and its symptoms, management and treatment satisfaction. Particularly, laxative usage and its impact compared to non-laxative treatments have been explored in this survey.

People with 20 gastrointestinal (GI) complaints were explored in this analysis. A total of 20,099 individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds across 7 countries (Italy, the United States, Russia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and Vietnam) took part in the survey.

The self-reported constipation and associated symptoms experienced within the previous six months, as well as details about the most recent episode of constipation were examined. This analysis provided insights into incidence rates, demographic information, frequency and duration of episodes and symptoms, effect on quality of life, management with or without laxatives and treatment satisfaction.

Overall, constipation was reported by 10,425 individuals within 6 months and 2637 at the former episode. The occurrence of self-reported constipation was high in all countries, with women and younger adults reporting the highest incidences (Figure 1):

Many participants experienced additional gastrointestinal symptoms alongside constipation. Among 5,337 participants reporting 6,865 episodes, approximately 80% occurred every 2 to 3 weeks to every 2 to 3 months. Increased constipation frequency was associated with a greater unfavourable impact on quality of life, with a mean impact score of 6.4 on a 10-point scale.

The majority of episodes lasted from 1 day to 1 week, prompting action from over 90% of participants. Of those taking action, 16% used laxatives, with 80.3% expressing satisfaction with their use.

Constipation, affecting people across cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds, significantly affects the quality of life. More than 90% of individuals resort to managing symptoms themselves.

People treated with laxatives expressed higher satisfaction rates compared to those without treatment.