[The influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on clinical outcome in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers].
OBJECTIVE
We conducted this study to find the clinical characteristics of ulcer bleeding that occurred in patients who had been taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to evaluate the influences of NSAIDs on clinical outcomes.


METHODS
Between January 2000 and December 2002, a total of 310 patients with ulcer bleeding were analyzed. Study group composed of 49 patients who had taken NSAIDs regularly for at least 4 weeks before the admission. Other 261 patients who had not taken NSAIDs were classified as control group. Relevant informations were obtained from the medical records.


RESULTS
Of the NSAIDs group, aspirin was the most common medication. The mean age and the proportion of females in the NSAIDs group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Prevalence of co-morbid illness was significantly higher in the NSAIDs group than in the control group (85.7% vs 30.7%, p<.001). The severity of bleeding which was assessed by hemoglobin level at presentation, amount of transfusion, and duration of admission, was not different between two groups. There were no significant differences in frequency of re-bleeding, urgent surgery, and mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Ulcer bleeding among patients taking NSAIDs occurred more frequently in older females with co- morbid illness. However, NSAIDs is not associated with higher morbidity and mortality.
Kim
Kyung Ho
KH
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hak Yang
HY
Choi
Jin Wook
JW
Lee
Ja Young
JY
Bae
Young Deok
YD
Baek
Gwang Ho
GH
Jang
Myoung Kuk
MK
Park
Jun Yong
JY
Lee
Jin Heon
JH
Yoo
Jae Young
JY
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal