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Hospital-based prevalence and predictors of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Northern Uganda: a retrospective
Walter Opio1, Tom Richard Okello2, Richard Nyeko3
1Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, P.O. Box 1035, Lira, Uganda. opiowalter01@gmail.com.
Background:
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a potentially life-threatening condition and a common reason for hospitalisation worldwide. However, the exact burden, as well as the associated factors and treatment outcomes of UGIB in this study setting, have not been determined to guide evidence-based interventions.
Objectives:
This study determined the prevalence, treatment outcome, and factors associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding among adult patients in Amolatar District, Northern Uganda.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study, reviewing the records of patients aged 18 years and older who were hospitalised at five selected health facilities between January 2021 and December 2022. Data were collected using a data extraction form that included sociodemographic characteristics, health-related factors, and treatment outcomes. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27 at the levels of univariate, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression analyses. A p value < 0.05 was considered for statistical significance.
Results:
The median age of the study participants was 42.0 years (IQR 31.0-56.0), with a range of 19 to 70 years. The prevalence of UGIB in Amolatar was 24.5%. The majority of the patients with UGIB in this study were aged over 40 years, and males were predominantly predisposed to UGIB compared to females, with a 2.2:1 male-to-female ratio. The case fatality rate among patients with UGIB in the current study was surprisingly low, at 1.6%. Alcohol use (AOR = 2.15; 95% CI 1.08-4.28, p = 0.030) and having a previous gastrointestinal bleeding (AOR = 11.23; 95% CI 5.45-23.12, p < 0.001) were the factors independently associated with UGIB.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of UGIB among patients in the study setting was 24.5%. A prior history of gastrointestinal bleeding and alcohol use were independently associated with the occurrence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). This highlights the necessity for community sensitisation regarding the causes, risk factors, and health outcomes associated with UGIB, in order to mitigate exposure to certain modifiable risk factors.
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