Epidemiology of childhood constipation: a national study of Swedish children from 2006 to 2023
Kornfält Isberg, Helena LU ; Falkenstein-Hagander, Kathy LU ; Lenander, Cecilia LU ; Derwig, Mariette LU and Hagander, Lars LU
(2025)
In BMC Pediatrics
25.
p.1-7
- Abstract
- Background
Childhood constipation is increasingly common, yet its prevalence is uncertain. This study examines comprehensive national data for trends in medically treated childhood constipation over a period of 18 years.
Methods
Included were all Swedish children, 0–14 years, 2006–2023, and all prescriptions for constipation, using the national Swedish Prescribed Drug register. The primary outcome was the number of unique patients prescribed, presented by age, gender, year, county, and ATC-code. Univariate and multivariable linear regression with ecological data were assessed for associations with age, gender, and year of prescription.
Results
The study population increased from 1.54 to 1.84 million children... (More) - Background
Childhood constipation is increasingly common, yet its prevalence is uncertain. This study examines comprehensive national data for trends in medically treated childhood constipation over a period of 18 years.
Methods
Included were all Swedish children, 0–14 years, 2006–2023, and all prescriptions for constipation, using the national Swedish Prescribed Drug register. The primary outcome was the number of unique patients prescribed, presented by age, gender, year, county, and ATC-code. Univariate and multivariable linear regression with ecological data were assessed for associations with age, gender, and year of prescription.
Results
The study population increased from 1.54 to 1.84 million children 0–14 years, while constipation increased more than sixfold, from 1.2% in 2006 to 7.9% in 2023. Children 0–4 years were prescribed the most, with an increase from 1.6 to 9.5%. Female gender was associated with 7.5 higher prescription frequency per 1000 inhabitants when adjusted for age and year (4.6–10.5 95%CI, p < 0.001). In 2023, girls aged 0–4 years were prescribed 27% more than boys (106.5 vs. 83.7 per 1000), compared with 23% among the 5–9-year-olds (86.8 vs. 70.6 per 1000), and 18% among the 10–14-year-olds (45.0 vs. 38.1 per 1000).
Conclusions
Prescription of constipation drugs to children has increased remarkably during the past 18 years. This study highlights an escalating public health challenge among children, with considerable associated costs for family and society. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Background: Childhood constipation is increasingly common, yet its prevalence is uncertain. This study examines comprehensive national data for trends in medically treated childhood constipation over a period of 18 years.
Methods: Included were all Swedish children, 0-14 years, 2006-2023, and all prescriptions for constipation, using the national Swedish Prescribed Drug register. The primary outcome was the number of unique patients prescribed, presented by age, gender, year, county, and ATC-code. Univariate and multivariable linear regression with ecological data were assessed for associations with age, gender, and year of prescription.
Results: The study population increased from 1.54 to 1.84 million children 0-14... (More) - Background: Childhood constipation is increasingly common, yet its prevalence is uncertain. This study examines comprehensive national data for trends in medically treated childhood constipation over a period of 18 years.
Methods: Included were all Swedish children, 0-14 years, 2006-2023, and all prescriptions for constipation, using the national Swedish Prescribed Drug register. The primary outcome was the number of unique patients prescribed, presented by age, gender, year, county, and ATC-code. Univariate and multivariable linear regression with ecological data were assessed for associations with age, gender, and year of prescription.
Results: The study population increased from 1.54 to 1.84 million children 0-14 years, while constipation increased more than sixfold, from 1.2% in 2006 to 7.9% in 2023. Children 0-4 years were prescribed the most, with an increase from 1.6 to 9.5%. Female gender was associated with 7.5 higher prescription frequency per 1000 inhabitants when adjusted for age and year (4.6-10.5 95%CI, p < 0.001). In 2023, girls aged 0-4 years were prescribed 27% more than boys (106.5 vs. 83.7 per 1000), compared with 23% among the 5-9-year-olds (86.8 vs. 70.6 per 1000), and 18% among the 10-14-year-olds (45.0 vs. 38.1 per 1000).
Conclusions: Prescription of constipation drugs to children has increased remarkably during the past 18 years. This study highlights an escalating public health challenge among children, with considerable associated costs for family and society. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/32893aeb-0896-45b6-93ba-69a6a6cf16e8
- author
- Kornfält Isberg, Helena
LU
; Falkenstein-Hagander, Kathy
LU
; Lenander, Cecilia
LU
; Derwig, Mariette
LU
and Hagander, Lars
LU
- organization
- alternative title
- En epidemiologisk studie av förstoppning bland svenska barn från 2006 till 2023
- publishing date
- 2025-07-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- BMC Pediatrics
- volume
- 25
- article number
- 525
- pages
- 1 - 7
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105010417994
- ISSN
- 1471-2431
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12887-025-05858-4
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 32893aeb-0896-45b6-93ba-69a6a6cf16e8
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-29 10:28:51
- date last changed
- 2025-08-30 04:03:20
@article{32893aeb-0896-45b6-93ba-69a6a6cf16e8,
abstract = {{Background<br/>Childhood constipation is increasingly common, yet its prevalence is uncertain. This study examines comprehensive national data for trends in medically treated childhood constipation over a period of 18 years.<br/><br/>Methods<br/>Included were all Swedish children, 0–14 years, 2006–2023, and all prescriptions for constipation, using the national Swedish Prescribed Drug register. The primary outcome was the number of unique patients prescribed, presented by age, gender, year, county, and ATC-code. Univariate and multivariable linear regression with ecological data were assessed for associations with age, gender, and year of prescription.<br/><br/>Results<br/>The study population increased from 1.54 to 1.84 million children 0–14 years, while constipation increased more than sixfold, from 1.2% in 2006 to 7.9% in 2023. Children 0–4 years were prescribed the most, with an increase from 1.6 to 9.5%. Female gender was associated with 7.5 higher prescription frequency per 1000 inhabitants when adjusted for age and year (4.6–10.5 95%CI, p < 0.001). In 2023, girls aged 0–4 years were prescribed 27% more than boys (106.5 vs. 83.7 per 1000), compared with 23% among the 5–9-year-olds (86.8 vs. 70.6 per 1000), and 18% among the 10–14-year-olds (45.0 vs. 38.1 per 1000).<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>Prescription of constipation drugs to children has increased remarkably during the past 18 years. This study highlights an escalating public health challenge among children, with considerable associated costs for family and society.}},
author = {{Kornfält Isberg, Helena and Falkenstein-Hagander, Kathy and Lenander, Cecilia and Derwig, Mariette and Hagander, Lars}},
issn = {{1471-2431}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{07}},
pages = {{1--7}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Pediatrics}},
title = {{Epidemiology of childhood constipation: a national study of Swedish children from 2006 to 2023}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05858-4}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12887-025-05858-4}},
volume = {{25}},
year = {{2025}},
}