How common is faecal incontinence and constipation?
Although the exact number of people affected by faecal incontinence is unknown (many people never visit a healthcare professional or reveal their symptoms), faecal incontinence is more common than you might think. Studies suggest that approximately 2% of the adult population have daily or weekly faecal incontinence episodes. The prevalence for adults over 65 years is 7% and in retirement homes it is up to 1/3 of the elderly. The exact number of people affected by constipation is unknown. Studies indicate that up to 20% of the population have problems with constipation.
