Epidemiologic data on acute gastrointestinal bleeding in Albania: an overview of upper and lower GI bleeding

Abstract

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a significant medical condition that poses a considerable burden on healthcare systems worldwide. To effectively manage and improve outcomes for patients, it is essential to have comprehensive epidemiologic data on GIB, including its various aspects such as upper and lower GIB, treatment modalities, and overall mortality rates. The objective of this study is to present the first epidemiological data on acute gastrointestinal bleeding in our country, which includes a comprehensive analysis of upper and lower AGIB, as well as the use of endoscopic and surgical treatments, and an assessment of overall mortality rates for the year 2015. A retrospective analysis of medical records and databases was conducted to gather epidemiologic data related to acute GIB cases during the specified period. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnostic findings, treatment approaches (including endoscopic and surgical interventions), and overall mortality rates were evaluated and analyzed. The study included a total of 926 patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding during 2015. Among them, 70% presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), while 30% had lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). The remaining cases involved both upper and lower GIB. Regarding treatment modalities, 80% of patients with UGIB underwent endoscopic interventions, which included various techniques such as endoscopic hemostasis, band ligation, and sclerotherapy. On the other hand, 60% of patients with LGIB required surgical intervention due to the severity or complexity of their bleeding. The overall mortality rate for acute GIB during the study period was calculated to be 8%. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with UGIB had a mortality rate of 5%, while patients with LGIB had a mortality rate of 10%. This study provides important epidemiologic data on acute gastrointestinal bleeding, focusing on upper and lower GIB, endoscopic and surgical treatment approaches, and overall mortality rates during the year 2015 in Albania. It refers to the first data, not published and gathered on this therapeutic field, that can be used as a reference for comparison in the latest publications and reports. Our study results showed that the higher incidence of UGIB compared to LGIB highlights the need for focused attention on upper gastrointestinal pathologies as significant contributors to GIB cases. The utilization of endoscopic interventions as the primary treatment modality for UGIB indicates the effectiveness and importance of timely endoscopic evaluation and intervention in controlling bleeding and improving patient outcomes. Based on the findings of this initial study, our future research endeavors were primarily focused on investigating patients within the upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) cohort.