title: Incidence of and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal complications in patients taking low-dose aspirin in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low-dose aspirin is widely used for the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, administration of low-dose aspirin is associated with an increased risk of upper gastrointestinal complications, such as upper gastrointestinal erosions, ulcers and bleeding. The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence and various clinical factors of upper gastrointestinal complications associated with low-dose aspirin treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1213 patients taking low-dose aspirin were evaluated with upper endoscopic examinations. We studied retrospectively the incidence of and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal complications associated with low-dose aspirin use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1213 patients taking low-dose aspirin, 598 patients and 72 patients were found to have gastroduodenal erosions (57.3%) and peptic ulcers (5.9%), respectively. Of these 72 peptic ulcers, 27 were diagnosed as hemorrhagic ulcers. Previous ulcer history was identified as a risk factor for peptic ulcer and upper gastrointestinal bleeding during low-dose aspirin therapy. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms and no use of gastroprotective agents were also identified as risk factors for peptic ulcers. In this study, the use of a histamine-2 receptor antagonist was indicated as a protective factor for peptic ulcers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose aspirin therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing upper gastrointestinal complications. Administration of a histamine-2 receptor antagonist was effective for the prevention of low-dose aspirin induced peptic ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobutaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inamori
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosono
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomimoto
authors.forename: Sigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawabe
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanida
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Atsukawa
authors.forename: Seitaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Harunobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higurashi
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akimoto
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuhashi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D041742:Upper Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D017442:Histamine Agonists; D001241:Aspirin