Antithrombotic drugs and non-variceal bleeding outcomes and risk scoring systems: comparison of Glasgow Blatchford, Rockall and Charlson scores.

Objectives: Antithrombotic drugs (ATDs) cause non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB). Risk scoring systems have not been validated in ATD users. We compared Blatchford, Rockall and Charlson scores in predicting outcomes of NVUGIB in ATD users and controls.

Falling mortality when adjusted for comorbidity in upper gastrointestinal bleeding: relevance of multi-disciplinary care.

Objectives: The understanding of changes in comorbidity might improve the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB); such changes might not be detectable in short-term studies. We aimed to study UGIB mortality as adjusted for comorbidity and the trends in risk scores over a 14-year period.

Methods: Patients presenting with UGIB to a single institution, 1996-2010, were assessed.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hospital inpatients: the role of antithrombotic drugs.

Background: Critically ill patients are considered to be most at risk from developing non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVGIB) while in hospital. The increasing prescription of low-dose aspirin and other antithrombotic drugs for protection against thromboembolism to many patients admitted to hospital may increase the vulnerability of a wider group to NVGIB.

Objective: This study compares two groups of patients with NVGIB: group I, inpatients cared for outside the intensive care unit; and group II, patients admitted with this condition, while considering the use of antithrombotic drugs.

Gastro-protective policy and the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objectives: In recent years, policies have been proposed in order to guide the safer use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antiulcer therapy. We aimed to investigate the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) before and after the introduction of these policies, 2007-2009, in a well-defined population in southwest Scotland.

Methods: All patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NV-UGIB), diagnosed at a single regional unit, were included.

Mortality following blood transfusion for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: Blood transfusion remains an integral step in the management of acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NV-UGIB), but its safety is being increasingly questioned in less severe cases. The authors aimed to measure 30-day and 2-year mortalities after blood transfusion for NV-UGIB.

Methods: Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association of blood transfusion with mortality while adjusting for age, Charlson comorbidity score, the complete Rockall score for acute UGIB, admission status and medication intake prior to bleeding.