Mortality from peptic ulcer bleeding: the impact of comorbidity and the use of drugs that promote bleeding.
BACKGROUND
Use of drugs promoting peptic ulcer bleed has increased several folds.


OBJECTIVE
To make a time-trend analysis of peptic ulcer bleed patients and evaluate the impact of age, gender, comorbidity and use of drugs promoting peptic ulcer bleed on outcome.


METHODS
Retrospective review of hospitalizations for peptic ulcer bleed at Lund University Hospital during 1984, 1994 and 2004. Univariate analyses between years and multivariable logistic regression for risk factors of fatal outcome.


RESULTS
Incidence decreased from 62.0 to 32.1 per 100 000 inhabitants between 1984 and 2004. Mortality rates were stable. Median age (70–77 years; P = 0.001), number of comorbidities (mean +/- s.d.: 0.88 +/- 0.96 to 1.16 +/- 0.77; P = 0.021), use of aspirin (16–57%; P < 0.001) and warfarin (5–17%; P = 0.02) increased. Pharmacological and endoscopic therapy improved. Age above 65 years (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.23) and number of comorbidities (OR: 6.00, 95% CI: 2.56–17.4) were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Bleeding promoting drugs did not influence outcome negatively. Aspirin decreased the risk of fatal outcome (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.012–0.67).


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence of peptic ulcer bleed decreased despite higher prescription rates of bleeding promoting drugs. The in-hospital mortality remained unchanged. The effect of improved therapy against peptic ulcer bleed is probably outweighed by older and more comorbid patients. The decreased risk of fatal outcome in aspirin users warrants further investigations.
Åhsberg
K
K
Department of Surgery, Lund University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden. kristina.ahsberg@med.lu.se
Höglund
P
P
Staël von Holstein
C
C
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin