Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01425-6 (2020)

Reviewer’ s report
Title: Factors correlated with drug use for constipation: perspectives from the 2016 open Japanese
National Database
Version: 0Date: 11 Jun 2020
Reviewer's report:
-The authors report correlations of magnesium laxatives and stimulant laxatives use with many
factors (e.g. directly with antihypertensive drugs, daily alcohol intake rate, smoking rate, averageroom temperature and average outside humidity and inversely with average outside temperature,total crime rate, average income population density, eating ≤2 hours before bedtime…etc.
For fecal interventions they report significant positive correlations with average outside humidityantihypertensives, and negative correlations for population density, total crime rate, averageincomes, eating ≤2 hours before bedtime.
These data are potentially interesting but the authors should further discuss them because theysometimes appear odd and they could be merely casually associated.
-Why didn't the authors investigate other laxative drugs such as macrogol or lubiprostone?-Did the authors investigate the use of constipating drugs?-Room temperatures used in this analysis were derived from 2010 data sourced via an internet
search and the study was based on 2016 data. I think the authors could eliminate this analysisbecause, in my opinion, data from 2010 and 2016 are hardly comparable
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
YesDoes the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
Unable to assessAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
YesAre you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further
assessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statisticsQuality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
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