Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Scotland 2000-2015: trends in demographics, aetiology and outcomes

Chaudhary, S., Mackay, D. , Pell, J. P. , Morris, J., Church, N. I., Fraser, A. and Stanley, A. J. (2021) Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Scotland 2000-2015: trends in demographics, aetiology and outcomes. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 53(3), pp. 383-389. (doi: 10.1111/apt.16170) (PMID:33210349)

Abstract

Background Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) remains a common cause of presentation and admission to hospital in the UK, with the incidence in Scotland one of the highest in the world. Aims: To investigate the difference in demographics, deprivation quintiles, aetiology of bleeding and clinical outcomes in patients presenting with UGIB to hospitals across Scotland over a 16‐year period. Methods: Data were collected using the National Data Catalogue and analysed retrospectively using the National Safe Haven. Results: We included 129 404 patients. The annual number of patients presenting with UGIB remained similar over the 16‐year period. Mean age at admission increased from 59.2 to 61.4 years. There was a significant drop in variceal bleeding over time from 2.2% to 1.7% (P < 0.001). The incidence of UGIB was highest in the more deprived quintiles. There was a significant decrease in 30‐day case‐fatality from 10.1% in 2000 to 7.9% in 2015 (P < 0.001), which was observed across all deprivation quintiles. Mean length of stay fell from 3.9 to 2.1 days. There was no difference in 30‐day case‐fatality or mean length of stay between patients presenting on weekdays or at weekends. Conclusions: In this national study, we demonstrated that case‐fatality and mean length of stay after presentation with UGIB in Scotland has fallen over the past 16 years, despite a rise the in mean age of patients. There is a positive correlation between the incidence of UGIB and deprivation. We found no evidence of worse outcomes among patients presenting at weekends.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the Scottish Society of Physicians for awarding a £5000 grant to fund this study.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stanley, Dr Adrian and Fraser, Dr Andrew and Pell, Professor Jill and Mackay, Professor Daniel and Morris, Dr John
• Authors: Chaudhary, S., Mackay, D., Pell, J. P., Morris, J., Church, N. I., Fraser, A., and Stanley, A. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0269-2813
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2036
• Published Online: 18 November 2020