title: Age and video capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a prospective study on hospitalized patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of aging on video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) has never been prospectively assessed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate if age is a risk factor for incomplete VCE examination in a setting of ongoing hospitalization for OGIB and if it affects the yield of VCE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight consecutive patients referred to our unit for obscure-overt GI bleeding from March 2007 to September 2009 were prospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age: ≤65 years (group A) and >65 years (group B). The VCE completion rate and clinically significant findings were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cecum was reached in 73% of patients. There was no difference between the two groups of patients in the VCE completion rate (78% vs. 68%, P=0.4). The overall diagnostic yield was 61%. A significant difference in the diagnostic yield between group A and group B (45% vs. 75%, P=0.04) was shown. Angiodysplasia was diagnosed in 13 out of 24 (54%) patients of group B, whereas mucosal breaks, such as erosions or ulcers, accounted for over a quarter of the group A findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Old age is not a risk factor for incomplete VCE examination and it is associated with increased VCE yield.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, G. Rummo Hospital, 82100, Benevento, Italy. giuseppescaglione@micso.net
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scaglione
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarracco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pietrini
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sorrentini
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002432:Cecum; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis