Patients with functional constipation do not have increased prevalence of colorectal cancer precursors.

摘要

It has always been a controversial subject whether patients with functional constipation have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Watanabe et al showed an increase in relative risk (RE) 1.31 of colorectal cancer in those with constipation. Roberts et al showed an association with >twofold risk of colon cancer (OR 2.36) adjusted for age, race, sex and relevant confounders. On the other hand, both studies by Dukas et aP and Kune et al after adjusting for age, sex and other risk factors showed no increase in risk.Colorectal cancer develops through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Thus, we aimed to compare the prevalence of colorectal adenomas in patients with long-standing functional constipation to an age, sex and risk factors-matched control group in a prospective study. The result indirectly gives insight into the risk of development of colorectal cancer in patients with chronic constipation.