Analysis of the risk factors and their combinations in acute gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
Traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ASA for thrombosis prophylaxis (ASA-TP), for pain medication (ASA-P) or non-ASA NSAIDs (NANSAIDs), Helicobacter pylori infection, CagA strains of H. pylori and smoking are reported risk factors for peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB), but the combined and the dose effects of these factors are controversial. The aim of this study was to estimate the significance of these risk factors and their combinations in PUB.


METHODS
PUB patients (n = 94) were compared with an age- (+/- 5 years) and gender-matched control group of non-ulcer patients (n = 94) attending elective endoscopy. A questionnaire on the possible risk factors (previous gastric and duodenal ulcer, use of ASA-TP, ASA-P, NANSAIDs, warfarin, alcohol and smoking) was completed. H. pylori infection was determined as positive if histology and/or urease tests were positive. CagA antibodies of IgG class were determined using an immunoblot method.


RESULTS
H. pylori infection (odds ratio (OR) 8.8), the use of ASA-P (OR 3.5), ASA-TP (OR 4.07), NANSAIDs with > or =1 defined daily dose (OR 6.56), smoking > or =20 cigarettes daily (OR 6.43) and previous duodenal ulcer (DU) (OR 8.96) were independent risk factors for PUB. At least two risk factors were present in 65% of PUB patients. CagA strains were detected in 97% of the H. pylori-positive cases and in 96% of the respective controls. ASA, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and smoking were dose-dependent risk factors for PUB.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous DU, H. pylori, the use of any ASA and smoking explained the majority of the PUB episodes. CagA strains of H. pylori were not associated with PUB. Two-thirds of the PUB patients had at least two risk factors, but their combination did not potentiate the risk.
Udd
Marianne
M
Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland. marianne.udd@hus.fi
Miettinen
Pekka
P
Palmu
Antero
A
Heikkinen
Markku
M
Janatuinen
Esko
E
Pasanen
Pentti
P
Tarvainen
Riitta
R
Mustonen
Harri
H
Julkunen
Risto
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000925:Anticoagulants