Prospective study of acute gastrointestinal bleeding attributable to anti-inflammatory drug ingestion in the Yorkshire region of the United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the general use of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and their relation to upper gastrointestinal bleeding in view of National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines published in July 2001 in the UK.


METHODS
Cross sectional study on all patients who were referred for endoscopy for suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding in six hospitals in Yorkshire region of the UK.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty three patients presented for endoscopy for suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding, 43 patients were taking at least one ulcerogenic drug, and 120 were not. The mean age difference between these two groups was eight years (p<0.01). The absolute difference between the proportion of patients with peptic ulcer disease/erosion (PUD) in NSAID with/without aspirin group and no ulcerogenic drug group was 31% (p = 0.02). The difference between the proportion of PUD in cyclo-oxygenase 2 with/without aspirin group and no ulcerogenic drug group was 30% (p = 0.1). The overall 30 days mortality rate was 14.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
Elderly patients are being inappropriately prescribed conventional NSAIDs. NSAIDs with or without aspirin use are still associated with a significant risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the era of cyclo-oxygenase 2 selective agents. Substitution with cyclo-oxygenase 2 selective NSAIDs is not without risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Lim
C H
CH
Department of Gastroenterology, Room 190A Clarendon Wing, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK. ch.lim@virgin.net
Heatley
R V
RV
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal