Constipation prevalence and risk from prescribed medications in people with intellectual disability: Findings from an English mortality programme

TY - JOUR

T1 - Constipation prevalence and risk from prescribed medications in people with intellectual disability

T2 - Findings from an English mortality programme

AU - Roberts, Christina

AU - Ding, Jonathon

AU - Bishara, Delia

AU - Riaz, Sahar

AU - Sheehan, Rory

AU - White, Adam

AU - Strydom, Andre

AU - Chauhan, Umesh

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024/7/19

Y1 - 2024/7/19

N2 - Constipation is common in people with intellectual disability, with case reports of associated deaths. Risk factors include lifestyle factors, health conditions, and certain medications. We aimed to explore constipation in a sample of people with intellectual disability who died in 2021. We described prevalence of constipation, causes of death and the risk of secondary constipation from prescribed medications. Medications were scored based on the risk of constipation indicated in the drug profile. Forty-eight percent of the sample had constipation. Half of the sample were prescribed at least two medications that are commonly associated with side effects of constipation. There were high rates of antipsychotic (30%) and laxative (40%) drug prescription. Five people with a history of constipation died of causes of death associated with constipation. Our findings highlight the risk of secondary constipation due to prescribed medication and the seriousness of the condition in people with intellectual disability.

AB - Constipation is common in people with intellectual disability, with case reports of associated deaths. Risk factors include lifestyle factors, health conditions, and certain medications. We aimed to explore constipation in a sample of people with intellectual disability who died in 2021. We described prevalence of constipation, causes of death and the risk of secondary constipation from prescribed medications. Medications were scored based on the risk of constipation indicated in the drug profile. Forty-eight percent of the sample had constipation. Half of the sample were prescribed at least two medications that are commonly associated with side effects of constipation. There were high rates of antipsychotic (30%) and laxative (40%) drug prescription. Five people with a history of constipation died of causes of death associated with constipation. Our findings highlight the risk of secondary constipation due to prescribed medication and the seriousness of the condition in people with intellectual disability.

KW - avoidable mortality

KW - constipation

KW - Intellectual disability

KW - medication

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85199462130&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/17446295241267085

DO - 10.1177/17446295241267085

M3 - Article

C2 - 39030671

AN - SCOPUS:85199462130

SN - 1744-6295

JO - Journal of Intellectual Disabilities

JF - Journal of Intellectual Disabilities

ER -