@entity18543 or XXXX ( @entity460 or Sodium) for the Prevention or Management of Constipation: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness

@entity1 @entity11884 @entity7272 @entity5 @entity5121 @entity15021 @entity18543 @entity460 @entity19067 @entity1142 @entity970 @entity968
Constipation has many definitions and is often described differently depending on the population queried. Many physicians define @entity1142 as a reduction in the frequency of bowel movements to fewer than three times per week while @entity1 identify more with the symptoms associated with @entity1142 such as difficulty passing stool, hard stool consistency, feelings of abdominal cramping, and feelings of incomplete stool passage. Causes of @entity1142 may be primary (idiopathic) or secondary to other factors such as diet, medication, or medical conditions. Constipation can affect anyone as a minor annoyance but up to a quarter of the population experiences it chronically or severely. It can substantially affect quality of life and be debilitating. It is estimated that between 2% to 27% of the population are affected depending upon the definition of @entity1142 used. Chronic @entity1142 is a significant problem in the elderly,, in @entity1 with chronic conditions,    and in @entity1 receiving opioids as part of a treatment regimen.    Up to 20% suffer from chronic @entity1142 in the community-dwelling elderly population while this number increases to approximately 50% to 75% in institutionalized elderly @entity1 . Approximately 90% of @entity1 treated with opioids for non- @entity5 suffer from @entity1142 with this number rising to 95% in @entity1 treated for @entity5 . Chronic @entity1142 can be defined using any one of three options: the Rome III criteria for functional @entity1142 , the American College of Gastroenterology definition, or the American Gastroenterological Association definition. Current treatment options include dietary or bulking agents (i.e. psyllium seed husk), osmotic laxatives (i.e. @entity11884 , @entity5121 , @entity968 [ @entity970 ]), stimulant laxatives (i.e. @entity7272 , @entity15021 , @entity19067 ), and stool softeners (i.e. @entity18543 or @entity460 )., In North America, docusate and a stimulant laxative such as @entity7272 are commonly used in bowel treatment protocols associated with institutionalized elderly and oncology treatments. A paucity of evidence is available to support the use of the stool softener docusate yet it continues to be prescribed in everyday clinical practice for the aforementioned populations.    While the actual cost of docusate is low, additional costs associated with its administration (i.e. nursing time) and its widespread use can be significant. Therefore, this review was undertaken to determine the clinical effectiveness of docusate for the prevention or management of @entity1142 .
