Constipation should be managed

Alison While

The topics of urine and faeces are considered the nurse's domain, yet chronic constipation and poor bowel health are taboo conditions with which many people suffer in silence. The Bowel Interest Group (BIG) (2020) estimated that about 6.5 million adults have some form of bowel problem, with constipation causing 55 497 emergency admissions in 2018/19. A 2016 YouGov survey of 2352 adults found that 20% of adults were embarrassed talking about constipation with their GP, and, if they considered themselves constipated, 20% would try to resolve it themselves without talking to anyone. Some 19% of adults reported that talking about constipation and erectile dysfunction were equally embarrassing (BIG, 2020).

The Cost of Constipation report (BIG, 2020) reminds us that the costs of constipation are not only incurred by the health service but also by people, as it causes misery and significantly undermines quality of life (QoL). Constipation affects one-in-seven adults and was the cause of nearly 80 000 hospital admissions and cost NHS England £168 million in 2018/19. Interestingly, regional health data suggest a relationship between higher spend on laxatives and higher admission rates, indicating the potential gains in those areas if bowel health is improved.