Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility

Table. 2. Table 2

Characteristics of Studies Comparing Different Types of Laxatives or Using Combination Agents

Study, country	Comparison	Design	Eligible population	Constipation criteria	Intervention and duration	Number of patients and mean age	Primary outcome	Results
Kinnunen and Salokannel³² (1987), Finland	Bulk vs Osmotic	Randomized, cross-over study	Geriatric long-stay patients aged 65 yr or older	Patients using laxatives	A: Magnesium hydroxide 25 mL qd B: Bulk laxative 8.7 g qd 8 wk	64 (F 47) Mean age 81 yr	BMs/wk Consistency score Need for laxatives for 4 wk	A: 3.3 B: 2.6^a A: 1 B: 0.8^b A: 2.3 B: 3.3^b
Kinnunen et al³³ (1993), Finland	Bulk + stimulant vs Osmotic	Open, randomized controlled, cross-over study	Geriatric long-stay patients aged 65-94 yr with constipation	BMs < 2/wk for more than 3 mo	A: Agiolax 20 mL qd B: Lactulose 30 mL qd 5 wk for each	30 (F 25) Mean age 81.8 ± 7.5 yr	BMs/wk Consistency Bisacodyl doses/5 wk	A: 4.5 ± 2.3 B: 2.2 ± 0.9^a Loose stools more common with Agiolax^a A: 1.0 ± 1.4 B: 1.7 ± 2.5 (NS)
Passmore et al³⁴ (1993), UK	Bulk + stimulant vs Osmotic	Randomized, double-blind, cross-over study	Long stay elderly patients or nursing home care with a history of chronic constipation	History of chronic constipation (< 3 BMs/wk) or need for regular laxatives	A: Agiolax 10 mL qd B: Lactulose 15 mL bid 2 wk for each (3-5 day wash-out)	77 (F 57) Mean age 82.9 yr	BMs/wk Consistency score	A: 5.6 B: 4.2^b Stool consistency score was significantly higher for Agiolax
Pers and Pers³⁵ (1983), Sweden	Bulk + stimulant vs Bulk + stimulant	Open, randomized, controlled, cross-over study	Hospitalized elderly patients with constipation	Chronic constipation necessitating laxative treatment	A: Agiolax 1 sachet qd (15 mg senna) B: Lunelax 1 sachet qd (25 mg senna) 2 wk for each	20 (F 16) Mean age 83 yr	BMs/wk	A: 3.3 B: 3.9^a

^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01.

F, female; BMs, bowel movements; qd, 4 times a day; bid, 2 times a day; NS, not significant.

J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2021;27:495~512 https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm20210