Constipation: Premature death, the side effects of medications, and the use of laxatives, for people with a learning disability in England

Abstract

A large portion of the LeDeR sample were at risk of developing constipation as a result of their prescribed medications. Laxatives prescriptions were very common, with 40% of the people with a learning disability included in this sample being prescribed at least one laxative. Over 50% of people with a learning disability included in this sample were taking two or more medications commonly or very commonly associated with constipation as a side-effect. Constipation did not appear on any of the death certificates for the people included in this sample either as a contributory factor or more proximal cause of death. Of those recorded as having constipation, 6 (13.0%) died of bowel obstruction or perforation. In comparison, none of the people without constipation died of bowel perforation or obstruction, suggesting that these avoidable complications may be associated with constipation. Low numbers of people were recorded to have an understanding of what constitutes normal bowel function or have received appropriate education on normal bowel habits.