Internet Survey of Japanese Patients With Chronic Constipation: Focus on Correlations Between Sleep Quality, Symptom Severity, and Quality of Life

• Published in: Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility 2021, 27(4), , pp.602-611
• Main Authors: Yamamoto, Sayuri, Kawamura, Yurika, Yamamoto, Kazuhiro, Yamaguchi, Yoshiharu, Tamura, Yasuhiro, Izawa, Shinya, Nakagawa, Hiroaki, Wakita, Yoshinori, Hijikata, Yasutaka, Ebi, Masahide, Funaki, Yasushi, Ohashi, Wataru, Ogasawara, Naotaka, Sasaki, Makoto, Maekawa, Masato, Kasugai, Kunio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; 내과학
• ISSN: 2093-0879; 2093-0887
• DOI: 10.5056/jnm20135

Chronic constipation and lifestyle factors can affect sleep quality. We evaluated the relationship between chronic constipation and sleep in the Japanese population. This cross-sectional internet-based survey included 3000 subjects with constipation, classified according to sleep status (good/poor). Primary endpoints were Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) score and correlations between sleep disorder criteria of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep status (good/poor sleep). Secondary endpoints included correlations between quality of life (QOL) and mood, medical, lifestyle, and sleep factors. The proportion of participants with BSFS category 4 (normal stool) was significantly higher in the good sleep group ( < 0.001). Sleep disturbance ( < 0.05), sleep quality, and duration, use of hypnotic medication, and daytime dysfunction of PSQI (all < 0.001) significantly correlated with poor sleep. In the poor sleep group, QOL was significantly worse and anxiety and depression levels were significantly higher (all < 0.001) compared with the good sleep group. Anemia and smoking (both < 0.05), recent body weight increases, and poor eating habits (all P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the poor sleep group. Male sex, onset associated with change in frequency of stools, sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least 25% of defecations, and manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations correlated with poor sleep. Subjects with constipation and poor sleep experienced severe symptoms and had poor QOL. These data support the need for a multifocal treatment approach, including lifestyle advice and pharmacotherapy.