Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Békés county, examined in 2001 and in 2006: A multicentric retrospective study

Background: According to the literature the rate of gastrointestinal bleeding in the last decade not changed, in spite of the fact that new medical and endoscopic therapeutic modalities have been introduced. On the basis of endoscopic findings obtained in 2001 and in 2006 the authors made a comparative analysis of the changes in frequency, quality, source of gastrointestinal bleeding in hospitalised patients.

Methods: In course of the retrospective analysis the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy data of three endoscopic centers in Békés County (Gyula, Békéscsaba, Orosháza) were processed (2001/9013, 2006/8399 examinations), the results of different disease groups were compared and statistically evaluated with χ2 test.

Results: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was diagnosed in 3% (279) in 2001 and also 3% (265) in 2006 of the examined cases. The number of bleeding from gastric ulcer decreased significantly (105 v.59, χ2=38.2p=0,001) In contrast the tendency of duodenal ulcer bleeding increased not significantly (39 v.52 χ2=2.22p=ns.). Altough the proportion of upper gastrointestinal erosions decreased (92 v.51). The rate of usage of antithrombotic medication increased (134 v.177 χ2=5.33p=0.05) significantly. Altough the prevention with PPI/H2RA was reduced in this period (47 v.38).

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the investigated inpatients tended to be older, with higher comorbidity and were more likely to have a bleeding ulcer or tear. The number of most frequently occuring nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal disorders show a decreasing tendency, but at the same time these disorders induce bleeding more often than earlier.