Characteristics, Outcomes, and Risk Factors for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Inpatients - A Comparison with Outpatients

OBJECTIVE: The study objectives were to clarify the clinical findings and the causes of intractability and mortality of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding in inpatients. METHODS: The patients were divided into Inpatient (Ip) and Outpatient (Op) onset groups, and their characteristics, clinical and bleeding data, and outcomes were compared. PATIENTS: Our study included 375 patients who developed UGI bleeding during hospitalization or were admitted after being diagnosed with UGI bleeding in an outpatient setting from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2020. RESULTS: The Ip group had worse general condition; increased percentages of comorbidities; and more common use of proton pump inhibitor, anti-coagulant, and steroid than the Op group. Compared with the Op group, the Ip group had lower serum albumin levels and platelet counts at the onset of bleeding, whereas rebleeding, mortality, and bleeding-related death rates were higher. Multivariate analysis of the Ip group revealed that the risks of rebleeding included endoscopic high-risk stigmata, maintenance dialysis, and duodenal bleeding, whereas the risks of mortality were gastric ulcer and a Charlson Comorbidity Index update score of ≥3. CONCLUSION: UGI bleeding in the Ip group was associated with higher rebleeding and mortality rates. Because of their poor general health condition, the pathology of UGI bleeding in these patients may differ from that of patients with common UGI bleeding. A different approach for the care and prevention of UGI bleeding in inpatients is required.