Epidemiology of slow and fast colonic transit using a scale of stool form in a community.

SUMMARYBackgroundMeasurement of gastrointestinal transit is commonly performed in theclinic, but data on transit in the community are lacking.AimTo estimate the prevalence of slow and fast colonic transit using stoolform, and potential risk factors.MethodsA validated self-reported gastrointestinal symptom questionnaire wasmailed to 4196 randomly selected members of the community (responserate 54%). One question asked the subject to self-report their stool formusing the Bristol Stool Scale.ResultsOverall, 18%, 9% and 73% met stool form criteria for slow, fast or nor-mal colonic transit, respectively. Increased odds for slow transit wereobserved with a higher Somatic Symptom Checklist score (OR = 1.6;1.3–2.0), while a decreased odds for slow transit was observed in malesrelative to females (OR = 0.6; 0.5–0.8). An increased odds for fast transitwas observed with higher Somatic Symptom Checklist score (OR = 2.3;1.7–2.9) and a history of cholecystectomy (OR = 1.8; 1.2–2.8). Increas-ing body mass index (per 5 units) was associated with decreased oddsfor slow (OR = 0.85; 0.78–0.93), and an increased odds for fast(OR = 1.1; 1.04–1.24) colonic transit.ConclusionBased on stool form assessment, nearly one in five community membersmay have slow colonic transit and one in 12 have accelerated colonictransit.