Table 1 Baseline characteristics before and after propensity score matched (PSM) according to use of laxatives in the UK Biobank cohort
Characteristic | Entire cohort | After PSM | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
None (n = 472,571) | Laxatives users (n = 14,422) | SMD | Control (n = 43,266) | Laxatives users (n = 14,422) | SMD | |
Age, mean (SD), year | 56.48 (8.10) | 58.08 (7.86) | 0.201 | 58.06 (7.79) | 58.08 (7.86) | 0.003 |
Male, n (%) | 219,738 (46.5) | 3188 (22.1) | 0.532 | 8976 (20.7) | 3188 (22.1) | 0.033 |
Ethnicity, n (%) | Â | Â | 0.082 | Â | Â | 0.006 |
 White | 445,598 (94.3) | 13,347 (92.5) |  | 40,100 (92.7) | 13,347 (92.5) |  |
 Black | 9128 (1.9) | 281 (1.9) |  | 837 (1.9) | 281 (1.9) |  |
 Asian and other | 17,845 (3.8) | 794 (5.5) |  | 2329 (5.4) | 794 (5.5) |  |
Socioeconomic status, n (%) | Â | 0.142 | Â | Â | 0.003 | |
 High | 158,886 (33.6) | 4239 (29.4) |  | 12,741 (29.4) | 4239 (29.4) |  |
 Middle | 157,931 (33.4) | 4459 (30.9) |  | 13,412 (31.0) | 4459 (30.9) |  |
 Low | 155,754 (33.0) | 5724 (39.7) |  | 17,113 (39.6) | 5724 (39.7) |  |
Education level, n (%) | Â | 0.226 | Â | Â | 0.010 | |
 College or University | 155,825 (33.0) | 3304 (22.9) |  | 10,087 (23.3) | 3304 (22.9) |  |
 Other | 316,746 (67.0) | 11,118 (77.1) |  | 33,179 (76.7) | 11,118 (77.1) |  |
Current employment, n (%) | Â | 0.360 | Â | Â | 0.012 | |
 Employed | 272,904 (57.7) | 5772 (40.0) |  | 17,570 (40.6) | 5772 (40.0) |  |
 Unemployed | 199,667 (42.3) | 8650 (60.0) |  | 25,698 (59.4) | 8650 (60.0) |  |
Smoking status, n (%) | Â | 0.097 | Â | Â | 0.013 | |
 Non-smoking | 259,320 (54.9) | 7214 (50.0) |  | 22,420 (50.4) | 7214 (50.0) |  |
 Smoking | 213,251 (45.1) | 7208 (50.0) |  | 21,332 (49.3) | 7208 (50.0) |  |
Alcohol consumption, n (%) | 0.119 | Â | Â | 0.010 | ||
 Excessive | 206,246 (43.6) | 7150 (49.6) |  | 21,231 (49.1) | 7150 (49.6) |  |
 Moderate | 266,325 (56.4) | 7272 (50.4) |  | 22,035 (50.9) | 7272 (50.4) |  |
Physical activity, n (%) | Â | 0.123 | Â | Â | 0.011 | |
 Low | 87,577 (18.5) | 3391 (23.5) |  | 9976 (23.1) | 3391 (23.5) |  |
 Middle | 238,339 (50.4) | 6791 (47.1) |  | 20,527 (47.4) | 6791 (47.1) |  |
 High | 146,655 (31.0) | 4240 (29.4) |  | 12,763 (29.5) | 4240 (29.4) |  |
Healthy diet, n (%) | 210,512 (44.5) | 5923 (41.1) | 0.070 | 17,577 (40.6) | 5923 (41.1) | 0.009 |
BMI (kg/m2) | 27.42 (4.77) | 27.67 (5.29) | 0.049 | 27.66 (5.24) | 27.67 (5.29) | 0.001 |
Heart disease, n (%) | 20,151 (4.3) | 1080 (7.5) | 0.137 | 3218 (7.4) | 1080 (7.5) | 0.002 |
Stroke, n (%) | 7605 (1.6) | 516 (3.6) | 0.124 | 1470 (3.4) | 516 (3.6) | 0.010 |
Diabetes, n (%) | 24,452 (5.2) | 999 (6.9) | 0.074 | 3060 (7.1) | 999 (6.9) | 0.006 |
Hypertension, n (%) | 184,713 (39.1) | 5521 (38.3) | 0.017 | 16,461 (38.0) | 5521 (38.3) | 0.005 |
Depression, n (%) | 27,927 (5.9) | 2000 (13.9) | 0.269 | 5629 (13.0) | 2000 (13.9) | 0.025 |
Constipation, n (%) | 3702 (0.78) | 873 (6.05) | 0.293 | 2194 (5.08) | 873 (6.05) | 0.038 |
Cholesterol, mean (SD), mmol/l | 5.69 (1.12) | 5.68 (1.17) | 0.012 | 5.68 (1.15) | 5.68 (1.17) | 0.002 |
Genetic risk, categories | 0.006 | Â | Â | 0.006 | ||
 Low | 157,536 (33.3) | 4829 (33.5) |  | 14,403 (33.3) | 4829 (33.5) |  |
 Middle | 157,557 (33.3) | 4769 (33.1) |  | 14,433 (33.4) | 4769 (33.1) |  |
 High | 157,478 (33.3) | 4824 (33.4) |  | 14,430 (33.4) | 4824 (33.4) |  |