Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is the most common emergency managed by gastroenterologists. AIM: To establish the hospitalized incidence and case fatality for upper GI bleeding, and to determine how they are associated with factors including day of admission, hospital size, social deprivation and distance from hospital. METHODS: Systematic record linkage of hospital in-patient and mortality data for 24 421 admissions for upper GI bleeding among 22 299 people in Wales from 1999 to 2007. RESULTS: The hospitalized incidence of upper GI bleeding was 134 per 100 000. Case fatality was 10.0%. Incidence was stable from 1999 to 2007; case fatality fell from 11.4% in 1999-2000 to 8.6% in 2006-7. Incidence was associated significantly with social deprivation. Compared with weekday admissions, case fatality was 13% higher for weekend admissions and 41% higher for admissions on public holidays. There was little variation in case fatality according to social deprivation, hospital size or distance from hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence, but not case fatality, was associated significantly with social deprivation. The higher mortality for weekend and public holiday admissions could not be explained by measures of case mix and may indicate a possible impact of reduced staffing levels and delays to endoscopy at weekends in some hospitals.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04495.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Aliment Pharmacol Ther

Publication Date

01/2011

Volume

33

Pages

64 - 76

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Emergency Service, Hospital, Endoscopy, Female, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage, Hospital Mortality, Humans, Incidence, Length of Stay, Male, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, Socioeconomic Factors, Wales, Young Adult