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Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage associated with low‐dose aspirin and anti‐thrombotic drugs – a 6‐year analysis and comparison with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs
Author(s) -
TAHA A. S.,
ANGERSON W. J.,
KNILLJONES R. P.,
BLATCHFORD O.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02560.x
Subject(s) - medicine , aspirin , incidence (geometry) , myocardial infarction , gastroenterology , population , drug , gastrointestinal bleeding , pharmacology , physics , environmental health , optics
Summary Background: Low‐dose aspirin and other anti‐thrombotic therapy has been increasingly used for vascular protection. Aim: To assess the possibility that the incidence of upper gastrointestinal blood loss has changed in subjects using these agents in comparison with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. Methods: We studied the characteristics of all patients with acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and attending a single hospital at 3 points over a 6‐year period: 1996 ( n = 204), 1999 ( n = 224) and in 2002 ( n = 252). Results: The incidence of haemorrhage in subjects taking low‐dose aspirin rose from 15 per 100 000 of the population per annum in 1996, to 18 in 1999 and 27 in 2002 ( P = 0.004). The respective incidence in subjects taking other anti‐thrombotic drugs was 4, 8, and 12 ( P < 0.001). No significant change was detected in non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug users. However, acute myocardial infarction mortality was 216 per 100 000 in 1996, 221 in 1999 and fell to 169 in 2002 ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in users of low‐dose aspirin and other anti‐thrombotic drugs has been steadily rising. This has been paralleled by a fall in cardiac mortality.