Comparative outcomes in patients with ulcer- vs non-ulcer-related acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the United Kingdom: a nationwide cohort of 4474 patients.

BACKGROUND

Outcomes after Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) have historically focused on ulcer-related causes. Little is known regarding non-ulcer bleeding, the most common cause of NVUGIB.

AIM

To compare outcomes between ulcer- and non-ulcer-related NVUGIB and explore whether these could be explained by differences in baseline characteristics, bleeding severity or processes of care.

METHODS

Analysis of 4474 patients with NVUGIB from 212 United Kingdom hospitals as part of a nationwide audit. Logistic regression models were used to adjust for baseline characteristics, bleeding severity and processes of care.

RESULTS

1682 patients had ulcer-related and 2792 patients had non-ulcer-related bleeding. Those with ulcer-related bleeding were older (median age 73 vs 69, P < 0.001), less likely to have been taking a PPI (18% vs 32%, P < 0.001), more likely to have been taking aspirin (40% vs 27%, P < 0.001) and present with shock (43% vs 32%, P < 0.001). Furthermore, those with ulcer-related bleeding were more likely to receive blood transfusion (66% vs 39%, P < 0.001), PPI infusion (27% vs 5%, P < 0.001) and endoscopic therapy (37% vs 8%, P < 0.001). Overall, ulcer-related bleeding had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.21-1.96, P < 0.0001), rebleeding (OR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.73-2.51, P < 0.0001) and need for surgical/radiologic intervention (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.85-3.77, P < 0.0001). The associations disappeared after adjustment for bleeding severity, whereas adjustment for patient characteristics or process of care factors had no impact.

CONCLUSION

Patients with ulcer-related NVUGIB bleeding have worse outcomes than those with non-ulcer-related NVUGIB bleeding, which is due to more severe bleeding.