Estreñimiento funcional en escolares y adolescentes y su relación con ansiedad, calidad de vida y otros factores comportamentales: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

Juanita Nathalie Higuera Carrillo; William Yesid Jimenez Albarracin; Michelle Melissa Higuera Carrillo; Martha Baez

doi:10.47892/rgp.2026.461.1948

Authors

Juanita Nathalie Higuera Carrillo Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5697-2517
William Yesid Jimenez Albarracin Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1972-9235
Michelle Melissa Higuera Carrillo Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0876-7885
Martha Baez Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7530-0713

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47892/rgp.2026.461.1948

Keywords:

Constipation, Quality of Life, Anxiety, Behavior, Students, Adolescent

Abstract

Introduction: Functional constipation (FC) is a common problem in childhood. A bidirectional interaction within the brain gut axis has been described, as well as the presence of behavioural and emotional factors that may affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objective: To evaluate the relationship between functional constipation and health-related quality of life, anxiety, and other behavioural factors in schoolchildren and adolescents. Materials and methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of studies published between 1 January 2014 and March 2024 that evaluated the association between FC, HRQoL, anxiety, and other behavioural factors in the paediatric population. MeSH terms were used to search electronic databases in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Of 128 references identified, four articles were included (three case control studies and one cross-sectional study), comprising a total of 2,820 children aged between 2 and 18 years. Of these, 9.89% had FC and 88.6% did not have FC. Children with FC showed poorer HRQoL, particularly in the social domain, and obtained higher scores on scales such as Child-PAQ, CBCL/4–18, and SDQ, suggesting an association with emotional and behavioural problems, particularly increased anxiety and depression. The meta-analysis showed a higher overall PedsQL score, with high heterogeneity among the included studies. Conclusions: Functional constipation in children and adolescents is associated with behavioural factors that negatively impact health-related quality of life. The findings suggest a greater presence of anxiety and depression symptoms in this population. Future studies should consider more balanced distributions between cases and controls and evaluate other individual characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive clinical approach that addresses both digestive and emotional or behavioural aspects Keywords: Constipation; Quality of Life; Anxiety; Behavior; Students; Adolescent (source: MeSH NLM).

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Velasco-Benitez CA, Ramírez-Hernández CR, Velasco-Suárez DA. Estado y rasgo de ansiedad en escolares y adolescentes colombianos con y sin desórdenes gastrointestinales funcionales. Rev colomb Gastroenterol. 2020;35(2):174-180. doi: 10.22516/25007440.416.

Hyams JS, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Shulman RJ, Staiano A, van Tilburg M. Functional Disorders: Children and Adolescents. Gastroenterology. 2016;15:S0016-5085(16)00181-5. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.015.

Celleri M, Koutsovitis F, Cremades C, Garay CJ. Índice de calidad de vida percibida en pacientes con trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Acta colomb psicol. 2023;26(1):45-55. doi: 10.14718/ACP.2023.26.1.4.

Barberio B, Judge C, Savarino EV, Ford AC. Global prevalence of functional constipation according to the Rome criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;6(8):638-648. doi: 10.1016/S2468- 1253(21)00111-4.

Aziz I, Whitehead WE, Palsson OS, Törnblom H, Simrén M. An approach to the diagnosis and management of Rome IV functional disorders of chronic constipation. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;14(1):39-46. doi: 10.1080/17474124.2020.1708718.

Rasquin A, Di Lorenzo C, Forbes D, Guiraldes E, Hyams JS, Staiano A, et al. Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: child/adolescent. Gastroenterology. 2006;130(5):1527-37. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2005.08.063.

Boronat AC, Ferreira-Maia AP, Matijasevich A, Wang Y-P. Epidemiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children and adolescents: A systematic review. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(21):3915-3927. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23. i21.3915.

Ranasinghe N, Devanarayana NM, Benninga MA, van Dijk M, Rajindrajith S. Psychological maladjustment and quality of life in adolescents with constipation. Arch Dis Child. 2017;102(3):268-273. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-310694.

Rajindrajith S, Ranathunga N, Jayawickrama N, van Dijk M, Benninga MA, Devanarayana NM. Behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents with constipation and their association with quality of life. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0239092. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239092.

Elkhayat HA, Shehata MH, Nada A, Deifalla SM, Ammar MS. Impact of functional constipation on psychosocial functioning and quality of life of children: A cross sectional study. Gaz Egypt Paediatr Assoc. 2016;64:136-141. doi: 10.1016/j. epag.2016.05.003.

Kianifar HR, Hebrani P, Behdani F, Dadpour MN, Karami H, Mehdizadeh A. Quality of Life and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Children and Adolescents with Functional Constipation a Case-Control Study. Govaresh. 2016;21(3):194-199.

Waterham M, Kaufman J, Gibb S. Childhood constipation. Aust Fam Physician. 2017;46(12):908-912.

Daza Wilson, Dadán Silvana, Higuera Michelle. Perfil de las enfermedades gastrointestinales en un centro de gastroenterología pediátrica en Colombia: 15 años de seguimiento. Biomédica. 2017;37(3):315-323. doi: 10.7705/ biomedica.v34i2.3313.

Drossman DA. Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: History, Pathophysiology, Clinical Features and Rome IV. Gastroenterology. 2016;19:S0016-5085(16)00223-7. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.032.

Carlson MJ, Moore CE, Tsai CM, Shulman RJ, Chumpitazi BP. Child and parent perceived food-induced gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(3):403- 413. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2013.10.013.