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According to a study published in Scientific Reports, constipation may be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Researchers from La Trobe University analyzed over half a million hospital admissions in the state of Victoria, Australia, and found that patients suffering from constipation were nearly twice as likely to develop hypertension compared to others.
While constipation is not definitively established as a direct cause of hypertension in elderly patients, experts believe there is a plausible connection. Constipation induces changes in water absorption in the intestine, alterations in the microbiome, and inflammation—factors that could contribute to the development of hypertension, explains Professor Chris Sobey, one of the study’s authors.
Furthermore, constipated patients faced an increased risk of experiencing major cardiovascular events such as a heart attack or stroke. The study, which examined 541,172 hospitalized patients over the age of 60, revealed that constipation was associated with a 96% higher risk of hypertension, as well as an elevated risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and all other cardiovascular events.
Additionally, participants suffering from both constipation and hypertension were exposed to a cardiovascular event risk over five times higher than those with neither condition. These associations were observed similarly in both men and women.
Professor Grant Drummond, co-director of the study, emphasizes the importance of identifying non-traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Despite efforts to modify usual risk factors through lifestyle interventions and medications, these events still account for 32% of global deaths, with 85% attributed to heart attacks or strokes. He therefore stresses the need to develop strategies to address these unconventional risks in order to further reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases.
