Risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation

Objectives: The effectiveness of colonoscopy depends on the quality of the examination. Inadequate bowel preparation is associated with a longer and more difficult procedure, missed pathologic lesions, and risk of complications. The predictive factors for poor bowel preparation are not well defined. The objective of our study was to determine the predictive factors of poor bowel preparation. Methods This is a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of patients who underwent colonoscopy over a period of 3 years. Patients with known inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were excluded from our study. Poor bowel preparation was defined by a Boston score of less than or equal to 5. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS21.0 software. Results Among 1143 colonoscopies performed, 39.2% had a poor preparation. After univariate analysis, the predictive factors for poor preparation were: male sex, age greater than 70 years, the presence of constipation, patients with colonic diverticulosis or colorectal process. After multivariate analysis, only age greater than 70 years [OR=1.8; p=0.038], constipation [OR=2.3; p=0.003] and the presence of colonic diverticulosis [OR=4.1; p<0.001] were statistically significantly associated with poor preparation. Conclusion The rate of poor bowel preparation remains high, and the factors that seem to be associated with it are age over 70 years, the presence of constipation and patients with colonic diverticulosis.