[Evaluation of the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Spain in relation to the taking of anti-ulcer agents].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse trends in the incidence of hospitalisation due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) and the relationship with the prescribing of anti-ulcer agents.


METHODS
Retrospective observational ecological study.


METHODS
Spanish National Health System (NHS) for the nine years between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2008.


METHODS



METHODS
Patients aged 15 or over hospitalised due to UGB were divided into four age groups: 15-44, 45-64, 65-74 and ≥75 years old. Drugs, A02B subgroup, prescribed under the NHS.


METHODS
Prescription of medicines in hospital or public-employee insurance companies.


METHODS
Incidence (number of new cases of UGB occurring in one year), Incidence rate (incidence per 100,000 inhabitants), Dispersion rate (number of packets dispensed per year per 100,000 inhabitants), and Hazard ratio (HR, ratio between the rate of the last year over the first year. Annual rates were calculated by the standardised direct method).


METHODS
Ministry of Health.


RESULTS
We identified 110,150 hospital admissions due to UGB (61.17% male, 38.83% female). Values for 95% UGB: Total Mean Incidence Rate (MIR)=34.45 [32.70, 36.20], HR=0.83. Males: MIR=43.07 [40.41, 45.72], HR=0.80 and females: MIR=25.20 [25.18, 27.23], HR=0.88. HR HDA by age group in males: 15-44 years=0.64; 45-64 years=0.74, 65-74 years=0.74 and >74 years=0.85. Females: 15-44 years=0.82, 45-64 years=0.71, 65-74 years=0.3 and >74 years=0.89. Drug dispensing (2000-2008): HR proton pump inhibitors=4.43; HR all anti-ulcer agents=3.01.


CONCLUSIONS
Over nine years the dispensing of anti-ulcer agents by the Spanish National Health System has multiplied without having regard to the evolutionary trend of hospitalisation due to UGB.
Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Centro de Salud de Porriño, Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Vigo, Vigo, Spain. carlos.alvarez.ibanez@sergas.es
Carlos
C
Alvarez-Ibáñez
María Mercedes
MM
Guerra-García
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents