Hospitalized incidence and outcomes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Thailand

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common emergency gastrointestinal problem which has substantial mortality and health care resources use. The nationwide basic information on UGIB is not available in Thailand. To identify the hospitalized incidence, outcomes and hospitalization cost of patients who presented with UGIB in Thailand. Information on illness of in-patients from hospitals nationwide was retrieved from three major health schemes database in fiscal year 2010. The hospitalized incidence rate of UGIB was 166.3 admissions per 100,000 populations and the hospitalized incidence rate of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) and variceal bleeding were 152.9 and 13.5 admissions per 100,000 populations respectively. Endoscopic procedure was undertaken in 27.6% of NVUGIB admissions and 80.7% of variceal bleeding admissions. The in-hospital mortality rate, hospitalization cost and length of stay were higher in variceal bleeding patients compared with NVUGIB patients. UGIB is an important emergency gastrointestinal problem which has significant mortality and substantial health care resources consumption.