Trends for Admission and Mortality in Peptic Ulcers at a Tertiary Referral Hospital During the 2017-2021 Period.

Background: The incidence of peptic ulcers has decreased during the last decades; the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the peptic ulcer hospitalizations. The study aimed to assess the admissions and mortality for complicated and uncomplicated peptic ulcers and the influence of the pandemic period. Material and Methods: We performed an observational study at a tertiary academic center, including all patients admitted for peptic ulcers between 2017-2021. We evaluated the admissions for complicated and uncomplicated ulcers and risk factors for mortality. Results: 1416 peptic ulcers were admitted, with an equal proportion of gastric and duodenal ulcers; most patients were admitted for bleeding (66.7%), and perforation (17.3%). We noted a decreasing trend for peptic bleeding ulcer (PUB) and uncomplicated ulcer admissions during 2020-2021, while for perforation no significant variation was recorded; a decreasing mortality in PUB was noted from 2017 to 2020. Admissions for bleeding peptic ulcer have decreased by 36.6% during the pandemic period; the mortality rate was similar. Admissions for perforated peptic ulcer have decreased by 14.4%, with a higher mortality rate during the pandemic period (16.83 versus 6.73%). Conclusion: A decreasing trend for PUB admissions but not for perforated ulcers was noted. Admissions for PUB have decreased by more than 1/3 during the pandemic period, with a similar mortality rate. Admissions for perforated peptic ulcers have decreased by 1/7, with significantly higher mortality rates during the pandemic period.

Risk factors for reintervention after surgery for perforated gastroduodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Perforated gastroduodenal ulcer carries a high mortality rate. Need for reintervention after surgical repair is associated with worse outcome, but knowledge on risk factors for reintervention is limited. The aim was to identify prognostic risk factors for reintervention after perforated gastroduodenal ulcer in a nationwide cohort. METHODS: All patients treated surgically for perforated gastroduodenal ulcer in Denmark between 2003 and 2014 were included using data from the Danish Clinical Register of Emergency Surgery. Potential risk factors for reintervention were assessed, and their crude and adjusted associations calculated by the competing risks subdistribution hazards approach. RESULTS: A total of 4086 patients underwent surgery for perforated gastroduodenal ulcer during the study interval. Median age was 71·1 (i.q.r. 59·6-81·0) years and the overall 90-day mortality rate was 30·8 per cent (1258 of 4086). Independent risk factors for reintervention were: male sex (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1·46, 95 per cent c.i. 1·20 to 1·78), in-hospital perforation (adjusted HR 1·36, 1·11 to 1·68), high BMI (adjusted HR 1·49, 1·10 to 2·01), high ASA physical status grade (adjusted HR 1·54, 1·23 to 1·94), shock on admission (adjusted HR 1·40, 1·13 to 1·74), surgical delay (adjusted HR 1·07, 1·02 to 1·14) and other co-morbidity (adjusted HR 1·24, 1·02 to 1·51). Preadmission use of steroids (adjusted HR 0·59, 0·41 to 0·84) and age above 70 years (adjusted HR 0·72, 0·59 to 0·89) were associated with a reduced risk of reoperation. CONCLUSION: Obese men with coexisting diseases and high disease severity who have surgery for gastroduodenal perforation are at increased risk of reoperation.

Surgical complications after open and laparoscopic surgery for perforated peptic ulcer in a nationwide cohort.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is associated with a risk of complications. The frequency and severity of reoperative surgery is poorly described. The aims of the present study were to characterize the frequency, procedure-associated risk and mortality associated with reoperation after surgery for PPU. METHODS: All patients treated surgically for PPU in Denmark between 2011 and 2013 were included. Baseline and clinical data, including 90-day mortality and detailed information on reoperative surgery, were collected from the Danish Clinical Register of Emergency Surgery. Distribution frequencies of reoperation stratified by type of surgical approach (laparoscopy or open) were reported. The crude and adjusted risk associations between surgical approach and reoperation were assessed by regression analysis and reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95 per cent c.i. Sensitivity analyses were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 726 patients were included, of whom 238 (32·8 per cent) were treated laparoscopically and 178 (24·5 per cent) had a laparoscopic procedure converted to laparotomy. Overall, 124 (17·1 per cent) of 726 patients underwent reoperation. A persistent leak was the most frequent cause (43 patients, 5·9 per cent), followed by wound dehiscence (34, 4·7 per cent). The crude risk of reoperative surgery was higher in patients who underwent laparotomy and those with procedures converted to open surgery than in patients who had laparoscopic repair: OR 1·98 (95 per cent c.i. 1·19 to 3·27) and 2·36 (1·37 to 4·08) respectively. The difference was confirmed when adjusted for age, surgical delay, co-morbidity and American Society of Anesthesiologists fitness grade. However, the intention-to-treat sensitivity analysis (laparoscopy including conversions) demonstrated no significant difference in risk. The risk of death within 90 days was greater in patients who had reoperation: crude and adjusted OR 1·53 (1·00 to 2·34) and 1·06 (0·65 to 1·72) respectively. CONCLUSION: Reoperation was necessary in almost one in every five patients operated on for PPU. Laparoscopy was associated with lower risk of reoperation than laparotomy or a converted procedure. However, there was a risk of bias, including confounding by indication.

Gastric Remnant Cancer: Continuing Serious and Insidious Problem for Surgeons.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric remnant cancers (GRC) are usually detected at a later stage resulting in low rates of curative resection and a consequently poor prognosis. The incidence and etiology of GRC have been changing recently because of early detection and improved outcomes in patients with gastric cancers. This study was performed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with GRC. METHODOLOGY: From January 2004 and July 2014, 27 patients with GRC who underwent surgery were analyzed retrospectively. The clinicopathological and follow-up data of 27 patients were evaluated including age, gende types of reconstruction, tumor location, histological types, TNM stages, surgical treatment and prognosis. RESULTS: Total 221 patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and ulcer disease and 27 (12.7%) consecutive GRC patients were included in this study. The median survival for all 27 patients was 20.0 ± 2.4 months. Previous malign disease, advanced TNM stage and non-curative resection were the negative prognostic factors for survival in patients with remnant stomach cancer (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Regular follow-up is one of the important factors affecting the early diagnosis and median survive time of patients with GRC. Curative resection is recommended operative treatment procedure to improve the survival when GRC patient diagnosed.

Risk Factors Associated with Mortality and Increased Drug Costs in Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine risk factors associated with mortality and increased drug costs in patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients hospitalized with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding between January 2001-December 2011. Demographic and clinical characteristics and drug costs were documented. Univariate analysis determined possible risk factors for mortality. Statistically significant variables were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Multiple linear regression analyzed factors influencing drug costs. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study included data from 627 patients. Risk factors associated with increased mortality were age > 60, systolic blood pressure<100 mmHg, lack of endoscopic examination, comorbidities, blood transfusion, and rebleeding. Drug costs were higher in patients with rebleeding, blood transfusion, and prolonged hospital stay. CONCLUSION: In this patient cohort, re-bleeding rate is 11.20% and mortality is 5.74%. The mortality risk in patients with comorbidities was higher than in patients without comorbidities, and was higher in patients requiring blood transfusion than in patients not requiring transfusion. Rebleeding was associ-ated with mortality. Rebleeding, blood transfusion, and prolonged hospital stay were associated with increased drug costs, whereas bleeding from lesions in the esophagus and duodenum was associated with lower drug costs.

Vagotomy/drainage is superior to local oversew in patients who require emergency surgery for bleeding peptic ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare early postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing different types of emergency procedures for bleeding or perforated gastroduodenal ulcers. BACKGROUND: Although definitive acid-reducing procedures are being used less frequently during emergency ulcer surgery, there is little published data to support this change in practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data for patients from the 2005-2011 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent emergency operation for bleeding or perforated peptic ulcer disease was performed to determine the association between surgical approach (local procedure alone, vagotomy/drainage, or vagotomy/gastric resection) and 30-day postoperative outcomes. Multivariable regression analysis was used to adjust for a number of patient-related factors. RESULTS: A total of 3611 patients undergoing emergency ulcer surgery (775 for bleeding, 2374 for perforation) were included for data analysis. Compared with patients undergoing local procedures alone, vagotomy/gastric resection was associated with significantly greater postoperative morbidity when performed for either ulcer perforation or bleeding. For patients with perforated ulcers, vagotomy/drainage produced similar outcomes as local procedures but required a significantly greater length of postoperative hospitalization. Conversely, vagotomy/drainage was associated with a significantly lower postoperative mortality rate than local ulcer oversew when performed for bleeding ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Simple repair is the procedure of choice for patients requiring emergency surgery for perforated peptic ulcer disease. For patients requiring emergency operation for intractable ulcer bleeding, vagotomy/drainage is associated with lower postoperative mortality than with simple ulcer oversew.

Influence of body mass index on mortality after surgery for perforated peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) is a strong predictor of mortality in the general population. In spite of the medical hazards of obesity, a protective effect on mortality has been suggested in surgical patients: the obesity paradox. The aim of the present nationwide cohort study was to examine the association between BMI and mortality in patients treated surgically for perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). METHODS: This was a national prospective cohort study of all Danish patients treated surgically for PPU between 1 February 2003 and 31 August 2009, for whom BMI was registered. Non-surgically treated patients and those with malignant ulcers were excluded. The primary outcome measure was 90-day mortality. The association between BMI and mortality was calculated as crude and adjusted relative risks (RRs) with 95 per cent confidence intervals (c.i.). RESULTS: Of 2668 patients who underwent surgical treatment for PPU, 1699 (63.7 per cent) had BMI recorded. Median age was 69.4 (range 17.6-100.9) years and 53.7 per cent of the patients were women. Some 1126 patients (66.3 per cent) had at least one of six co-morbid diseases; 728 (42.8 per cent) had an American Society of Anesthesiologists grade of III or more. A total of 471 patients (27.7 per cent) died within 90 days of surgery. Being underweight was associated with a more than twofold increased risk of death following surgery for PPU (adjusted RR 2.26, 95 per cent c.i. 1.37 to 3.71). No statistically significant association was found between obesity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Being underweight was associated with increased mortality in patients with PPU, whereas being overweight or obese was neither protective nor an adverse prognostic factor.

Methods of emergency surgery in high-risk stigmata peptic ulcer hemorrhage.

AIM: The choice of emergency operative methods in management of peptic ulcer hemorrhage (PUH) is controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the patient characteristics, surgical methods and treatment outcome of patients with PUH during 10 years. METHODS: Of the 953 admitted PUH patients all 67 (7.0%) operated cases had high-risk stigmata PUH (Forrest classification). These patients were grouped and their data were compared under two 5-year periods: period I - 32 patients (2003-2007) and period II - 35 patients (2008-2012). RESULTS: The majority of the patients had giant ulcer (diameter ≥ 2 cm) hemorrhage at 75.0% (24/32) and 94.3% (33/35) during study periods I and II, respectively (P=0.04). Giant duodenal and gastric ulcers for PUH were operated in 16 and 8 vs 27 and 6 during periods I and II, respectively. Ulcer exclusion or ulcerectomy combined with definitive acid reducing surgery was applied in 68.7% (22/32) and 71.4% (25/35) of the patients, respectively, without early recurrent hemorrhage. Postoperative in hospital mortality in the 10-year study period was 6.0% (4/67); 2.1% (1/48) of the patients died after definitive operations and 15.8% (3/19) (P=0.04) died after non-definitive operations. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment of high-risk stigmata PUH was mainly associated with giant, particularly giant duodenal ulcer. As a rule, ulcer exclusion or ulcerectomy as hemorrhage control, combined with definitive surgery, was applied in the majority of the cases with an in hospital mortality of 2.1%.

[Gastric and duodenal perforations: what is the role of laparoscopic surgery?]. / Magen- und Duodenalperforation: Welchen Stellenwert hat die laparoskopische Chirurgie?

INTRODUCTION: The gastric and duodenal perforations are a life-threatening complication of peptic ulcer disease with the indication for immediate surgical intervention. To which extent laparoscopy is a suitable method in an acute situation was examined in the present investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of all patients within a period of 15 years (01/1996-12/2010) who were operated laparoscopically because of a perforated gastric or duodenal ulcer, were collected prospectively in terms of age, gender, localisation of perforation, diagnostics, symptoms, surgical procedures, intraoperative and postoperative complications and postoperative course, and were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: During the observation period 45 patients were operated laparoscopically due to gastric or duodenal perforation. The median age at operation was 58 (18-91) years. An NSAID medication was present in 11 (24.4 %) patients. The perforation was juxtapyloric in 12 (26.7 %) patients, postpyloric in 10 (22.2 %) patients, one (2.2 %) patient in each small and greater curvature, in 18 (40.0 %) at the front and in three (6.7 %) patients on the rear wall. In two cases, previous surgical treatment in the upper abdomen was performed. After primary diagnostic laparoscopy, an indication for conversion was seen in 20 (44.4 %) patients. During laparoscopically completed operations simple suturing was done in 18/25 (72.0 %) patients and excision and suturing was performed in 7/25 (37.8 %) patients. After conversion simple suturing was observed in 7/20 (35.0 %) patients, whereas in 10/20 (50.0 %) patients excision and suturing was performed. 3/20 (15.0 %) patients underwent a resective operation. The median operative time was 105 (40-306) minutes and mean hospitalisation 11 (4-66) days. The ICU stay was in median 2 (0-37) days. Major complications were seen in 11 (24.4 %) patients, namely re-laparotomy (n = 7; 15.6 %) and haemorrhage (n = 4; 8.9 %). Minor complications were observed in 8 (17.8 %) of cases. The mortality rate was 11.1 % (n = 5). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic treatment of gastric and duodenal perforations is a minimally invasive therapeutic option for the definitive treatment of this life-threatening disease. The indication for a laparoscopic approach has to be considered individually and depends to a decisive extent on the experience of the laparoscopic surgeon.

[Laparoscopic treatment of perforated ulcers].

It was done comparative analysis the results of different treatment options using of laparoscopic treatment of 331 patients with perforated ulcers. It was defined that postoperative complications frequency is increased to 1.6% in case of perforated ulcers suturing with diameter to 0.7 cm. This indication is increased to 7.1% in case of perforated ulcers suturing and plugging by greater omentum with holes diameter to 1.0 cm. The complications are absent in case of perforated ulcer excision with subsequent vagotomy and pyloroplasty.

Improving quality of care in peptic ulcer bleeding: nationwide cohort study of 13,498 consecutive patients in the Danish Clinical Register of Emergency Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) is complex, and mortality remains high. We present results from a nationwide initiative to monitor and improve the quality of care (QOC) in PUB. METHODS: All Danish hospitals treating PUB patients between 2004 and 2011 prospectively registered demographic, clinical, and prognostic data. QOC was evaluated using eight process and outcome indicators, including time to initial endoscopy, hemostasis obtainment, proportion undergoing surgery, rebleeding risks, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 13,498 PUB patients (median age 74 years) were included, of which one-quarter were in-hospital bleeders. Preadmission use of anticoagulants, multiple coexisting diseases, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists scores increased between 2004 and 2011. Considerable improvements were observed for most QOC indicators over time. Endoscopic treatment was successful with primary hemostasis achieved in more patients (94% in 2010-2011 vs. 89% in 2004-2006, relative risk (RR) 1.06 (95% confidence intervals 1.04-1.08)), endoscopy delay for hemodynamically unstable patients decreased during this period (43% vs. 34% had endoscopy within 6 h, RR 1.33 (1.10-1.61)), and fewer patients underwent open surgery (4% vs. 6%, RR 0.72 (0.59-0.87)). After controlling for time changes in prognostic factors, rebleeding rates improved (13% vs. 18%, adjusted RR 0.77 (0.66-0.91)). Crude 30-day mortality was unchanged (11% vs. 11%), whereas adjusted mortality decreased nonsignificantly over time (adjusted RR 0.89 (0.78-1.00)). CONCLUSIONS: QOC in PUB has improved substantially in Denmark, but the 30-day mortality remains high. Future initiatives to improve outcomes may include earlier endoscopy, having fully trained endoscopists on call, and increased focus on managing coexisting disease.

Surgical delay is a critical determinant of survival in perforated peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality following perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) remain substantial. Surgical delay is a well established negative prognostic factor, but evidence derives from studies with a high risk of bias. The aim of the present nationwide cohort study was to evaluate the adjusted effect of hourly surgical delay on survival after PPU. METHODS: This was a cohort study including all Danish patients treated surgically for PPU between 1 February 2003 and 31 August 2009. Medically treated patients and those with a malignant ulcer were excluded. The associations between surgical delay and 30-day survival are presented as crude and adjusted relative risks (RRs) with 95 per cent confidence intervals (c.i.). RESULTS: A total of 2668 patients were included. Their median age was 70·9 (range 16·2-104·2) years and 55·4 per cent (1478 of 2668) were female. Some 67·5 per cent of the patients (1800 of 2668) had at least one of six co-morbid diseases and 45·6 per cent had an American Society of Anesthesiologists fitness grade of III or more. A total of 708 patients (26·5 per cent) died within 30 days of surgery. Every hour of delay from admission to surgery was associated with an adjusted 2·4 per cent decreased probability of survival compared with the previous hour (adjusted RR 1·024, 95 per cent c.i. 1·011 to 1·037). CONCLUSION: Limiting surgical delay in patients with PPU seems of paramount importance.

Mortality from nonulcer bleeding is similar to that of ulcer bleeding in high-risk patients with nonvariceal hemorrhage: a prospective database study in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Nonulcer causes of bleeding are often regarded as minor, ie, associated with a lower risk of mortality. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of death from nonulcer causes of upper GI bleeding (UGIB). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from 3 national databases. SETTINGS: Community and teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients admitted for acute nonvariceal UGIB. INTERVENTIONS: Early endoscopy, medical and endoscopic treatment as appropriate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Thirty-day mortality, recurrent bleeding, and need for surgery. RESULTS: A total of 3207 patients (65.8% male), mean (standard deviation) age 68.3 (16.4) years, were analyzed. Overall mortality was 4.45% (143 patients). According to the source of bleeding, mortality was 9.8% for neoplasia, 4.8% for Mallory-Weiss tears, 4.8% for vascular lesions, 4.4% for gastroduodenal erosions, 4.4% for duodenal ulcer, and 3.1% for gastric ulcer. Frequency of death was not different among benign endoscopic diagnoses (overall P = .567). Risk of death was significantly higher in patients with neoplasia compared with benign conditions (odds ratio 2.50; 95% CI, 1.32-4.46; P < .0001). Gastric or duodenal ulcer significantly increased the risk of death, but this was not related to the presence of high-risk stigmata (P = .368). The strongest predictor of mortality for all causes of nonvariceal UGIB was the overall physical status of the patient measured with the American Society of Anesthesiologists score (1-2 vs 3-4, P < .001). LIMITATIONS: No data on the American Society of Anesthesiologists class score in the Prometeo study. CONCLUSIONS: Nonulcer causes of nonvariceal UGIB have a risk of death, similar to bleeding peptic ulcers in the clinical context of a high-risk patient.

Multicentre trial of a perioperative protocol to reduce mortality in patients with peptic ulcer perforation.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality rates in patients with perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) remain substantial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a multimodal and multidisciplinary perioperative care protocol on mortality in patients with PPU. METHODS: This was an externally controlled multicentre trial set in seven gastrointestinal departments in Denmark. Consecutive patients who underwent surgery for gastric or duodenal PPU between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2009 were treated according to a multimodal and multidisciplinary evidence-based perioperative care protocol. The 30-day mortality rate in this group was compared with rates in historical and concurrent national controls. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate following PPU was 17·1 per cent in the intervention group, compared with 27·0 per cent in the three control groups (P = 0·005). This corresponded to a relative risk of 0·63 (95 per cent confidence interval 0·41 to 0·97), a relative risk reduction of 37 (5 to 58) per cent and a number needed to treat of 10 (6 to 38). CONCLUSION: The 30-day mortality rate in patients with PPU was reduced by more than one-third after the implementation of a multimodal and multidisciplinary perioperative care protocol, compared with conventional treatment. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00624169 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Randomized controlled trial of standard versus high-dose intravenous omeprazole after endoscopic therapy in high-risk patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Rebleeding from peptic ulcers is a major contributor to death. This study compared standard (40-mg intravenous infusion of omeprazole once daily for 3 days) and high-dose (80-mg bolus of omeprazole followed by 8-mg/h infusion for 72 h) in reducing the rebleeding rate (primary endpoint), need for surgery, duration of hospital stay and mortality in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding after successful endoscopic therapy. METHODS: This was a single-institution prospective randomized controlled study based on a postulated therapeutic equivalence of the two treatments. All patients who had successful endoscopic haemostasis of a bleeding peptic ulcer (Forrest classification Ia, Ib, IIa or IIb) were recruited. Informed consent was obtained and patients were randomized to receive standard- or high-dose infusions of intravenous omeprazole. RESULTS: Two (3 per cent) of 61 patients in the high-dose group and ten (16 per cent) of 61 in the standard-dose group exhibited rebleeding, a difference of - 13 (95 per cent confidence interval - 25 to - 2) per cent. The upper limit of the one-sided confidence interval exceeded a predefined equivalence absolute difference of 16 per cent. Equivalence of standard- and high-dose omeprazole in preventing rebleeding was not demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Intravenous standard-dose omeprazole was inferior to high-dose omeprazole in preventing rebleeding after endoscopic haemostasis for peptic ulcer bleeding. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00519519 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Time trends of mortality from gastric cancer in Europe.

BACKGROUND: The time trends of gastric and duodenal ulcer disease are shaped by a birth-cohort phenomenon. AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the extent by which a birth-cohort phenomenon also affected the long-term time trends of gastric cancer among different European countries. METHODS: Mortality data from France, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, and Sweden of the past 56-85 years were analyzed. The age-specific death rates were plotted against the period of death as period-age contours and against the period of birth as cohort-age contours. RESULTS: The long-term time trends of gastric cancer mortality were found to have risen among generations born during the 18th century until the mid-19th century and then to have declined in all subsequent generations. The rise and fall of gastric cancer preceded similar birth-cohort patterns of gastric and duodenal ulcer by about 10-30 years. With the exception of gastric cancer in Germany, similar birth-cohort phenomena were found in all countries, as well as in men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The time trends of mortality from gastric cancer and peptic are shaped by birth-cohort patterns that have affected all countries of Europe. It remains an enigma why mortality associated with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer suddenly started to rise within a short time period during the 19th century.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: risk factors for mortality in two urban centres in Latin America.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in two major Latin American hospitals; presenting its main causes, treatment, and prognosis, while exploring some risk factors associated with death. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and sixty four patients were admitted into any of the 2 hospitals and were at least 15 years of age. Some variables demographics, clinics and treatment were studied. The association between those variables and the death were explored. RESULTS: Mean age was 57.9 years; the men:women ratio was 1.4:1. Three hundred and fifty nine patients (77.3%) presented as outpatients and 105 patients (22.6%) were inpatients presenting with UGIB. 71.6% of patients had an upper GI endoscopy within 24 hours. The main causes of bleeding were peptic ulcer (190 patients, 41%), erosive disease (162 patients, 34.9%) and variceal bleeding (47 patients, 10.1%). Forty four patients died (9.5%). Bleeding as an inpatient has a higher mortality risk than does bleeding as an outpatient (RR 2.4 IC 95% 1.2-4.6). An increasing number of comorbidities such as those described in the Rockall Score are also associated with a higher risk of dying (RR 2.5 IC 95% 1.1-5.4). CONCLUSION: UGIB as an inpatient and the presence of comorbidities should alert the clinician in identifying patients at higher risk of a fatal outcome, these patients should have a more aggressive management and be entitled to an early intervention.

Differences in the birth-cohort patterns of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer.

AIM: The aim of this epidemiological study was to follow the time trends of mortality from gastric cancer and compare them with those of gastric and duodenal ulcer. METHODS: Mortality data from Denmark, England & Wales, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and the United States of the past 57-130 years were analysed. The age-specific death rates were plotted against the period of death as period-age contours and against the period of birth as cohort-age contours. RESULTS: The long-term time trends of gastric cancer mortality were found to rise among generations born during the 18th century until the first half of the 19th century and then decline in all subsequent generations. The rise and fall of gastric cancer preceded similar birth-cohort patterns of gastric and duodenal ulcer by about 10-30 years. With the exception of gastric cancer in the USA, similar birth-cohort phenomena were seen in all countries. In general, similar temporal patterns were also seen in men and women analysed separately. CONCLUSIONS: The time trends of mortality from gastric cancer are shaped by an underlying birth-cohort pattern that resembles similar patterns of peptic ulcer mortality. The occurrence of birth-cohort phenomena in gastric cancer and peptic ulcer suggests that additional secular trends besides changes in the infection with Helicobacter pylori must have contributed to the peculiar long-term behaviour of these diagnoses.

Trends and outcomes of hospitalizations for peptic ulcer disease in the United States, 1993 to 2006.

OBJECTIVES: Despite progress in diagnosis and treatment, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) remains a common reason for hospitalization and operation. The purpose of this study was to quantify the time trends of hospitalizations and operations for PUD in the United States (US) since 1993. DATA AND METHODS: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample is a 20% stratified sample of all hospitalizations in the United States. It was used to study hospitalizations with PUD as the principal diagnosis during 1993 to 2006, including details on ulcer site, complications, procedures, and mortality. Statistical methods included the chi test and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The national estimate of hospitalizations for PUD decreased significantly from 222,601 in 1993 to 156,108 in 2006 (-29.9%), with a larger reduction in duodenal ulcers (95,552 in 1993 vs. 60,029 in 2006, -37.2%) than gastric ulcers (106,987 in 1993 vs. 86,064 in 2006, -19.6%). The inpatient mortality rate of PUD decreased from 3.8% to 2.7% during 1993 to 2006 (P < 0.001). Hemorrhage remained the most common complication (71.6% in 1993; 73.3% in 2006) but perforation had the highest mortality (15.1% in 1993; 10.6% in 2006). In comparison to 1993, patients hospitalized for PUD in 2006 more frequently had endoscopic treatment to control bleeding (12.9% vs. 22.2%, P < 0.001), similar use of surgical oversewing of ulcer (7.6% vs. 7.4%), less use of gastrectomy (4.4% vs. 2.1%, P < 0.001), and less use of vagotomy (5.7% vs. 1.7%, P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regressions, the determinants of mortality were similar in 1993 and 2006. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalizations for PUD decreased in the United States from 1993 to 2006, suggesting a decrease in the prevalence and/or severity of ulcer complications over this recent time period. Despite increased patient age and comorbidities, there has been a significant decrease in PUD mortality, a significant increase in the use of therapeutic endoscopy for bleeding ulcer, and a significant decrease in the use of definitive surgery (vagotomy or resection) for ulcer complications.

Cost-effectiveness of endoscopic surveillance of gastric ulcers to improve survival.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic surveillance of presumed-benign gastric ulcers may detect missed malignancy, but its impact on long-term outcomes is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of follow-up surveillance. DESIGN: State-transition model. SETTING: To simulate the clinical course of presumed-benign gastric ulcers, we estimated prevalence and incidence of undetected gastric cancer, surveillance effectiveness, stage-specific disease mortality rates, and costs from clinical studies and databases. PATIENTS: This study involved 60-year-old men diagnosed with presumed-benign gastric ulcers. INTERVENTION: Follow-up endoscopic surveillance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Lifetime gastric cancer risk, life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS: For a cohort of 60-year-old men with presumed-benign gastric ulcers and a 2.6% prevalence of undetected malignancy, the lifetime gastric cancer risk was 4.4%. Surveillance improved (undiscounted) life expectancy by 10.0 days and increased discounted quality-adjusted life expectancy by 3.4 days at a cost of $146,700 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Surveillance cost less than $50,000 per QALY if the undetected gastric cancer prevalence was 6.5%, and it cost less than $100,000 per QALY if the prevalence was greater than 3.5%, endoscopy costs were 40% lower, or the disutility associated with gastric cancer was 30% lower. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis suggested that at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY, the probability that surveillance was cost effective was 25.2%. LIMITATIONS: Data from multiple sources with varied study designs were used. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic surveillance of presumed-benign gastric ulcers may improve overall survival. However, unless the prevalence of having undetected malignancy exceeds 6%, surveillance is unlikely to be cost-effective.