Impact of COVID-19 infection on patients admitted with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: an analysis from the National Inpatient Sample

Abstract

Background

Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is a medical emergency that has significant morbidity and mortality. The available data about the impact of COVID-19 infection on mortality in patients with NVUGIB is limited.

Methods

We identified all hospitalizations with a principal diagnosis of NVUGIB in 2020. The baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 infection were compared to those without COVID-19 infection.

Results

NVUGIB patients with COVID-19 infection had higher mortality (5% vs 2%, P < 0.0001), a longer mean length of stay (6.85 vs 4.48 days, P < 0.0001), and a lower rate of esophagogastroduodenoscopy utilization (40% vs 51%, P < 0.0001) than those without COVID-19 infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that COVID-19 infection was associated with a higher mortality rate (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval, 1.4–3.4).

Conclusions

COVID-19 infection is an independent predictor of mortality in adults hospitalized with NVUGIB.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Disclosure statement

Khaled Elfert, MD, received a travel grant for the abstract titled “Trends, characteristics, and outcomes of hospitalized patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis in the United States” that was presented at the Digestive Disease Week. Michel Kahaleh, MD, has received grant support from Boston Scientific, Fujinon, Apollo Endosurgery, Cook Endoscopy, Olympus, and MI Tech. He is a consultant for Boston Scientific and ABBvie. None of that funding was related to this paper. The other authors report no funding or potential conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Khaled Elfert, MD, received a travel grant for the abstract titled “Trends, characteristics, and outcomes of hospitalized patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis in the United States” that was presented at the Digestive Disease Week. Michel Kahaleh, MD, has received grant support from Boston Scientific, Fujinon, Apollo Endosurgery, Cook Endoscopy, Olympus, and MI Tech. He is a consultant for Boston Scientific and ABBvie. None of that funding was related to this paper.