Physiological parameters as independent risk factors for upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A case-control study

Background: Gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the common causes of daily referral to hospitals worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors of acute gastrointestinal bleeding.Methods: In this case-control study, the case group included patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding who had referred to Rasoul-e- Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran from ۲۰۱۳ to ۲۰۱۶, and the control group were selected among hospitalized patients with other diseases (such as rheumatologic disorders). Patients' information was extracted from patients’ file and endoscopy reports. The level of significance was considered less than ۰.۰۵.Result: In the study, ۴۷۶ patients, including ۲۳۸ patients in the case group and ۲۳۸ patients in the control group were evaluated. In the logistic regression model, age over ۶۵ years (OR = ۲.۸; ۹۵% CI: ۱.۳۲-۴.۶; p = ۰.۰۲۳) and body mass index higher than ۲۵ kg/m۲ (OR = ۲.۳; ۹۵% CI: ۱.۵۵-۳.۹۱; p = ۰.۰۳۶) were considered as the most important risk factor for acute gastrointestinal bleeding. The history of diabetes was reported as another independent risk factor for acute gastrointestinal bleeding (OR = ۱.۹; ۹۵% CI: ۱.۱۴ to ۳.۳; p = ۰.۰۲۱).Conclusion: The results showed that changing of lifestyle and controlling of modifiable risk factors such as obesity can be prevent gastrointestinal bleeding and reducing the complications.