Background Lifestyle changes alone and second-line treatment with laxatives are not enough to solve chronic constipation, especially if it is impaired by constipation-inducing medication (CIM).

Intermittent colonic exoperistalsis (ICE) administered with the MOWOOT medical device, is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for chronic constipation. It has been developed to facilitate natural bowel movements and reduce the burden of laxatives, enemas, and other invasive approaches. ICE has been proven safe and effective in a previous multicentric clinical trial.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of ICE treatment on people taking CIM.

Methods Patients under CIM included in the previous multicentric clinical trial were identified as those taking concomitant medication whose medical leaflet listed constipation as an adverse event occurring at a frequency >10%.

Patients used the ICE device daily for 20 minutes over 4 weeks at home without the direct supervision of a medical professional.

The difference after ICE-treatment (V2) respect to baseline (V1) was assessed by the number of complete bowel movements per week (CBM/w), the constipation symptoms (KESS score), and the quality of life (PACQoL).

Results Among the 92 patients included in the previous clinical trial, there were n=42 taking CIM. Most of CIM patients were women (n=33; 78.57%) aged 53’86 (10.16) yr, with BMI: 27,68 (5,25). CIM included opioids (14.29%), antidepressants (69.05%), antipsychotics (7.14%), anticonvulsants (4.76%), antihypertensives (30.95%), and other CIM (21.43%).

All the assessed parameters significantly improved after ICE treatment (V2): the number of CMB/w was increased by 2.4 (3.1); symptoms of constipation were reduced by 3.6 (5.3); and quality of life increased by 0.6 (0.7) (IDDF2024-ABS-0091 Table 1).

Conclusions As a non-invasive, non-pharmacological solution to constipation, home use of the ICE device would broaden the current standard of care and have interesting benefits for CIM patients and the healthcare system.