[Changes in the etiology, outcome, and characteristics of patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding between 1999 and 2005].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the evolution of the following variables in patients admitted to a Blood Unit for gastrointestinal bleeding throughout 1999-2005: etiology, comorbid diseases, use of NSAIDs/anticoagulants, and mortality.


METHODS
We analyzed the evolution of the following causes of GIB that required admission to the Blood Unit from 1999 to 2005: duodenal ulcer (DU), gastric ulcer (GU), portal hypertension (PHT), and others. We also analyzed changes in the percentage of patients admitted with comorbid disease, use of NSAIDs/anticoagulants, and mortality.


RESULTS
1,611 Patients with a mean age of 60.45 years (59.7-61.2) were included in this study; 76.41% were males (74.3-78.5). DU was the cause of bleeding in 22.20% of cases (20.2-24.3), GU in 18.40% of cases (16.6-20.4), and PHT in 33.60% of cases (31.3-36.0). In all, 34.5% (32.6-37.3) of patients were taking NSAIDs, 7.1% (6.0-8.6) were receiving anticoagulant therapy, 72.6% (70.4-74.8) presented with comorbid disease, and overall mortality was 6.27% (5.16-7.59). Throughout the 1999-2005 period there was an increase in the number of patients with comorbid diseases (p < 0.02), and a decrease in cases of DU (p < 0.04), without significant differences in the remaining variables.


CONCLUSIONS
DU, GU and PHT account for three quarters of admissions to our Blood Unit. Over the last seven years, there has been a decrease in cases due to DU, and an increase in patients with comorbid disease; overall mortality rates have remained stable.
Garrido
A
A
Unidad de Sangrantes, Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla. agarser@telefonica.net
Márquez
J L
JL
Guerrero
F J
FJ
Leo
E
E
Pizarro
M A
MA
Trigo
C
C
D000208:Acute Disease; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000925:Anticoagulants