BACKGROUND: The self-reported bowel habits and the prevalence of @entity322 and @entity1142 in @entity1 and @entity1 between the ages of 31 and 76 are assessed. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample (n = 2000) of the total population of @entity1 between the ages of 31 and 76 living in the County of Osterg  tland, Sweden. RESULTS: The response rate was 80.5%. Overall, 67.8% reported one bowel movement per day and 4.4% had more than 21 or less than 3 bowel movements per week. This means that 95.6% had between 3 bowel movements a day to 3 bowel movements a week. Among @entity1 , 4.3%, and among @entity1 . 1.7%, reported less than 3 bowel movements per week. @entity1 and @entity1 used the same terms to describe the definition of @entity1142 . @entity1 had a significantly higher self-reported prevalence of @entity1142 than @entity1 (P < 0.0001). About 20% of all @entity1 considered themselves constipated. The use of laxatives increased with age and 22% and 10% of elderly @entity1 and @entity1 , respectively, used laxatives including bulking agents for at least every fourth toilet procedure. About 10% reported leakage of faeces more often than once a month in the case of loose stools. With solid faeces, the rate of leakage was 1.4% and 0.4% for @entity1 and @entity1 , respectively. Soiling of underclothes more than once a month occurred in 21% of @entity1 and in 14.5% of @entity1 (P = 0.006) and involuntary daily leakage of gas in 5.9% of @entity1 and 4.9% of @entity1 (n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: Constipation and @entity322 are common problems in a general Swedish population.

A population-based study on bowel habits in a Swedish community: prevalence of XXXX and @entity1142 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'Women', 'persons', 'men'] @entity1142 :: ('MESH:D003248', 'Disease') :: ['constipation'] @entity322 :: ('MESH:D014549', 'Disease') :: ['faecal incontinence']
@entity322 :: (MESH:D014549,Disease) :: ['faecal incontinence']
