Demographic Characteristics of Constipated and Nonconstipated Control Children.
| Variable | Constipated (n = 125) | Control (n = 95) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (mo) | 44 ± 13 | 46 ± 18 | .36 |
| Sex (%) | |||
| Male | 49 | 54 | .96 |
| Female | 51 | 46 | |
| Family history of constipation | |||
| Parents | 30 | 40 | .14 |
| Siblings | 17 | 14 | .56 |
| Age toilet training began (mo) | 28 ± 7 | 27 ± 6 | .24 |
| Degree of difficulty with toilet training (0 = none, 4 = extreme) | 2.1 ± 1.3 | 1.4 ± 1.1 | <.001 |
| Degree of difficulty passing some bowel movements (%) | |||
| None | 3 | 49 | <.001 |
| Mild | 86 | 49 | <.001 |
| Moderate | 80 | 10 | <.001 |
| Extreme | 76 | 5 | <.001 |
| Degree of pain passing some bowel movements (%) | |||
| None | 5 | 56 | <.001 |
| Mild | 82 | 40 | <.001 |
| Moderate | 69 | 8 | <.001 |
| Severe | 67 | 6 | <.001 |
| Children expressing worry about passing bowel movements (%) | 75 | 8 | <.001 |