Abstract:

Purpose: To examine the relationship between the severity of constipation and physical activity level, body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio, and quality of life in women with chronic constipation. Methods: Constipation severity with Constipation Severity Scale (CSS), physical activity level with International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), BMI with body weight/height, waist-hip ratio with tape measure and quality of life with Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) of 115 women with chronic constipation were evaluated. Results: While there were negative correlations between CSS-obstructive defecation, CSS-colonic inertia, CSS-pain and CSS-total scores and IPAQ-SF score (p<0.001) (rho=-0.482, -0.364, -0.366, and -0.538, respectively), positive correlations were found with waist-hip ratio (excluding CSS-colonic inertia) (rho=0.288, 0.374 and 0.322, respectively) (p<0.05). There were also positive correlations between CSS sub-dimensions and NHP-pain (rho=0.592, 0.409, 0.620, and 0.674, respectively), NHP-emotional reaction (rho=0.531, 0.448, 0.526, and 0.588, respectively), NHP-sleep (rho=0.381, 0.254, 0.337, and 0.396, respectively), NHP-social isolation (rho=0.451, 0.334, 0.392, and 0.512, respectively), NHP-physical activity (rho=0.517, 0.383, 0.441, and 0.563, respectively), NHP-energy (rho=0.367, 0.344, 0.330, and 0.451, respectively) and NHP-total score (rho=0.728, 0.559, 0.668, and 0.812, respectively) (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was found that the severity of constipation was negatively correlated with physical activity level, while it was positively correlated with waist/hip ratio and quality of life. With the nutrition and diet programs given in addition to regular physical activity and exercise programs, the severity of constipation can be reduced and the quality of life can be increased.

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