The Burden of Liver Cirrhosis in Patients with Upper GI Hemorrhage

Background: Upper GI bleeding significantly impacts patients with liver cirrhosis, increasing morbidity and mortality. While variceal bleeding is the most common cause, nonvariceal bleeding presents a higher risk of severe endoscopic stigmata, potentially leading to greater complications. Objective: To assess the prevalence of liver cirrhosis in acute upper GI bleeding patients and its correlation with other factors. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Settings: Department of General Medicine, Medical Teaching Institute, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan. Duration: 25 Jul 2021 to 25 Jan 2022. Methods: This study included 195 acute upper GI bleeding patients, selected via nonprobability sampling. Patients aged 18–70 years were analyzed through clinical history, lab tests, ultrasounds, and endoscopies by specialists. Data was processed using SPSS 20, with numerical and categorical variables evaluated. Results: The study included 195 patients, 53.8% of whom had liver cirrhosis. The mean age was 44.38±15.23 years, with 54.4% male. Hepatitis C was more prevalent (55.4%) than Hepatitis B (44.6%). Smoking was common (67.2%), while 9.2% reported IV drug abuse. No significant associations were found between liver cirrhosis and age (P=0.178), gender (P=0.080), viral hepatitis type (P=0.739), smoking (P=0.279), IV drug abuse (P=0.879), or BMI (P=0.841). Conclusion: This study found a high incidence of liver cirrhosis in acute upper GI bleeding patients. A multidisciplinary strategy emphasizing early diagnosis and timely intervention is crucial for better outcomes.