Objective:

To assess the risk factors associated with inadequate bowel preparation.

Material and methods:

A prospective study was conducted from January to June 2018 in patients older than 18 years scheduled for colonoscopy in the Endoscopy Unit of the Hospital Juárez de México. They were prepared with polyethylene glycol the previous day (4 liters) and the Boston scale of intestinal preparation was used. The analysis was performed using means and standard deviation (SD). Regression analysis with non-parametric statistics was performed to assess correlation using Spearman’s Rho (r), using the SPSS software (version 24).

Results:

132 colonoscopies were performed, 33 were excluded. The average age was 56.1 years (SD: ±15.29), 51.1% men vs. 48.9% women. The main indication was lower gastrointestinal bleeding (55%). The mean intestinal preparation was 7.35 (SD: ±0.96). The main risk factors in which a significant correlation was observed with poor intestinal preparation were: weight (r: 0.37; p = 0.005), body mass index (BMI) (r: 0.46; p = 0.005), waist/hip index (r: 0.31; p = 0.005), diabetes mellitus (r: 0.41; p = 0.05) and high intake of red meat (r: 0.62; p = 0.005). The rest of the measured variables have a poor association with adequate intestinal preparation.

Conclusion:

The risk factors associated with an inadequate preparation of the colon are BMI, waist/hip index, diabetes mellitus and the intake of red meat.