Patient-reported outcomes after acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Abstract

Objective. Nonvariceal acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) is often associated with significant blood loss and anemia. Both the bleeding episode itself and the subsequent anemia are likely to significantly impact a patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Treating the anemia is essential to increase the hemoglobin levels. The HRQoL impact has not been investigated. This longitudinal study aimed to determine the relationship between anemia, HRQoL, and fatigue in patients after nonvariceal AUGIB. Materials and methods. A total of 97 patients (51 males and 46 females; mean age 70 years) were followed in a longitudinal study with a 6-month follow-up. All patients had AUGIB and were anemic at inclusion. Anemia, HRQoL (EQ-5D-3L), and fatigue (using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory) were assessed at baseline, and at 1, 3, and 6 months. The patients were initially included in an iron supplementation study. Results. The patients’ HRQoL increased and their fatigue levels decreased from baseline to month 3 and month 6. Approximately half of the patients had full health at month 3; similar results were observed in the general population. Three and six months after the bleeding episodes, neither the HRQoL nor fatigue was affected by the anemia. Conclusion. This study did not uncover relationships between anemia and HRQoL or anemia and fatigue after nonvariceal AUGIB.

Key Words::

• anemia
• fatigue
• gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• health-related quality of life

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Vifor Pharma Nordiska AB, Kista, Sweden.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.