Chronic constipation appears to increase the risk of several cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly venous thromboembolism, according to a population-based study from Denmark.

Patients with medically diagnosed constipation were at greater risk of CVD than patients with normal bowel habits in the decade after diagnosis, the Aarhus University Hospital-led researchers found.

The risk was greatest for venous thromboembolism with constipation doubling the odds of an event, they reported in BMJ Open.

“The risks were similar for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism but markedly higher for splanchnic venous thrombosis,” the researchers said, adding that for splanchnic thrombosis risks were quadrupled.