Polypharmacy and chronic intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in relation to upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients over 45 years of age

Abstract

Polypharmacy and chronic intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are considered risk factors for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This study determined the relationship between polypharmacy and chronic intake of NSAIDs with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients over 45 years old through a retrospective endoscopy study. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics for X² variable association and OR (Odds Ratio), with a p-value <0.05. A total of 104 patient files were reviewed, detecting non-variceal bleeding in 67 of them (64.4%) and variceal bleeding in 37 (35.6%), associated with smoking, alcoholism, liver cirrhosis, polypharmacy, and chronic intake of NSAIDs. Avoiding these factors is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality.