The prognostic significance of the Rockall score evaluation in patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a major emergency. The Rockall score (RS) could be a tool to predict the outcome of patients regarding their risk of re-bleeding and/or death 30 days after admission. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the RS in patients admitted for UGIB in Yaoundé (Cameroon). Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at two emergency units inYaoundé. We included 101 patients admitted from 2020 to 2021 for a UGIB and obtained the sociodemographic, clinical, and paraclinical data. The outcome 30 days after the admission was assessed (re-bleeding and/or death). We calculated the RS and analyzed the association of an RS ≥ 5 with the death of the patient and/or a re-bleeding 30 days after admission. Results: The mean age of patients was 48.5 years, 75 of the 101 were males (74.3%). The main bleeding lesions were portal hypertension in 35 patients (34.7%), gastric ulcers in 32 patients (31.7%), and duodenal ulcers in 30 patients (29.7%). During the 30 days after the admission, we recorded re-bleeding in 21 patients (20.8%) and death in 9 patients (8.9%). The RS was ≥ 5 in 49 patients (48.5%), and this was significantly associated with the re-bleeding (RR 4.5; CI 95% 1.631–12.459; P = 0.001) and with the death (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The RS ≥ 5 is associated with a risk of re-bleeding and/or death in patients admitted for a UGIB in Yaoundé regardless of the aetiology.