Chronic constipation in people with intellectual disabilities in the community: cross-sectional study.
Richard LaugharneIndermeet SawhneyBhathika PereraDelia WainwrightPaul BassettBriony CaffreyMaire O'DwyerKirsten LambMike WilcockAshok RoyKaty OakSharon EusticeNick NewtonJames SterrittRuth BishopRichard LaugharnePublished in: BJPsych open (2024)
People with intellectual disabilities may be more vulnerable to chronic constipation if they are more severely intellectually disabled. The associations of constipation with dysphagia, cerebral palsy, poor mobility and the need for greater toileting support suggests people with intellectual disabilities with significant physical disabilities are more at risk. People with the above disabilities need closer monitoring of their bowel health. Reducing medication to the minimum necessary may reduce the risk of constipation and is a modifiable risk factor that it is important to monitor. By screening patients using the constipation questionnaire, individualised bowel care plans could be implemented.