Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Retinal and Choroidal Thickness Changes in Populations with Helicobacter pylori Infection by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: November 1, 2024
Risk factors of gastrointestinal bleeding in clopidogrel users: a nationwide population-based study
1Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
The risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in clopidogrel users have not been identified.
Aim:
To clarify whether clopidogrel use is a risk factor for upper GIB (UGIB) and lower GIB (LGIB) and identify the risk factors in clopidogrel users.
Methods:
Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, 3238 clopidogrel users and 12,952 age-, sex-, and enrolment time-matched controls in a 1:4 ratio were extracted for comparison from a cohort dataset of 1,000,000 randomly sampled subjects. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify the independent risk factors for UGIB and LGIB in all enrollees and clopidogrel users after adjustments for age, gender, comorbidity [i.e., coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cirrhosis, uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease, and peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB)], and medications [e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, aspirin, steroids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), warfarin and alendronate].
Results:
Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that use of clopidogrel increased the risk of UGIB [hazard ratio (HR): 3.66; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.96-4.51] and LGIB [HR: 3.52, 95% CI: 2.74-4.52]. Age, CKD, PUB history, use of aspirin and NSAIDs were independent risk factors for UGIB in the clopidogrel users. Age, CKD, PUB history, use of aspirin and SSRIs were independent risk factors for LGIB.
Conclusions:
In clopidogrel users, age, CKD, PUB history, use of aspirin and NSAIDs are independent risk factors for UGIB; age, CKD, PUB history, use of aspirin and SSRIs are independent risk factors for LGIB.
Related Concept Videos
Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction
An acute ulcer, marked by superficial erosion and minimal inflammation, swiftly resolves upon identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In contrast, a chronic ulcer persists, potentially eroding through the muscular wall and forming fibrous tissue.
Peptic ulcers can also be...
Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction
Disorders of Hemostasis
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.
Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Disease States and Pharmacology
Substances such as alcohol and specific drugs, including antineoplastics, can also negatively impact drug absorption. For instance,...
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology
