Incidence of and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal complications in patients taking low-dose aspirin in Japan.

Background/aims: 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.

Methodology: 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.