Patients over 18 years old admitted to the hospital complex with signs and symptoms of UGIB and diagnosed by upper digestive endoscopy (UDE) or surgical intervention (laparoscopy) were determined as our study group.
UGIB was defined as: i) presence of endoscopically proven ulcers, perforation, or hemorrhagic erosions and ii) presence of dark or “coffee grounds” vomiting, melena, hematemesis, hematochezia, epidegastric pain, sudden loss, heavy sweating, and/or pallor.
Patient exclusion criteria were (i) bleeding from gastric or esophageal varices or neoplasm; (ii) presence of cirrhosis, Mallory-Weiss tears, and/or Dieulafoy lesions; (iii) serious health condition; (iv) UDE performed after 48 h of hospital admission; (v) hospitalization within 15 days prior to the current hospital admission; and (vi) in-hospital UGIB.
For each recruited case participant, controls were matched by sex, age (±5 years), and recruitment data (3 months). Control participants were admitted to preoperative units of the same hospital complex for mild surgery unrelated to gastrointestinal disorders (i.e., inguinal/umbilical hernia correction; plastic surgery; phacectomy (eye cataract); and prostatectomy).
Participants were recruited regardless of the use of NSAIDs and LDA in order to verify whether the proposed genetic variants are associated with the risk of UGIB or whether there is synergism between the variants and the use of these drugs in the risk of UGIB. Hence, it is essential that both case and control groups include NSAIDs or LDA-exposed and NSAIDs or LDA-unexposed individuals to assess the likely direct effect of functional variants on risk of suffering UGIB (7 (link)).
In order to reduce possible bias, only biologically unrelated participants were included. Participants with history of neoplasia, immunodeficiency syndrome, coagulopathies, nasogastric or percutaneous tube holders; patients who use narcotics; and non-residents of the study region for at least 3 months were excluded.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria for the participants are described in detail in our three previous studies (4 (link), 10 (link), 11 (link)).
UGIB was defined as: i) presence of endoscopically proven ulcers, perforation, or hemorrhagic erosions and ii) presence of dark or “coffee grounds” vomiting, melena, hematemesis, hematochezia, epidegastric pain, sudden loss, heavy sweating, and/or pallor.
Patient exclusion criteria were (i) bleeding from gastric or esophageal varices or neoplasm; (ii) presence of cirrhosis, Mallory-Weiss tears, and/or Dieulafoy lesions; (iii) serious health condition; (iv) UDE performed after 48 h of hospital admission; (v) hospitalization within 15 days prior to the current hospital admission; and (vi) in-hospital UGIB.
For each recruited case participant, controls were matched by sex, age (±5 years), and recruitment data (3 months). Control participants were admitted to preoperative units of the same hospital complex for mild surgery unrelated to gastrointestinal disorders (i.e., inguinal/umbilical hernia correction; plastic surgery; phacectomy (eye cataract); and prostatectomy).
Participants were recruited regardless of the use of NSAIDs and LDA in order to verify whether the proposed genetic variants are associated with the risk of UGIB or whether there is synergism between the variants and the use of these drugs in the risk of UGIB. Hence, it is essential that both case and control groups include NSAIDs or LDA-exposed and NSAIDs or LDA-unexposed individuals to assess the likely direct effect of functional variants on risk of suffering UGIB (7 (link)).
In order to reduce possible bias, only biologically unrelated participants were included. Participants with history of neoplasia, immunodeficiency syndrome, coagulopathies, nasogastric or percutaneous tube holders; patients who use narcotics; and non-residents of the study region for at least 3 months were excluded.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria for the participants are described in detail in our three previous studies (4 (link), 10 (link), 11 (link)).
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