Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients treated by low-dose aspirin

Aim of the study - To estimate the number of people treated by low-dose asp irin (< 330 mg daily) in France and to evaluate the risk of upper gastroint estinal bleeding associated with low-dose aspirin treatment. Subjects and methods - One thousand six hundred and two patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were included between January and June 1996 in 4 French areas. Data about patients characteristics, drugs recently used and bleeding lesions were prospectively collected. Five hundred seventy five c ases were matched for sex, age and area with control people without previou s upper gastrointestinal bleeding. low-dose aspirin intake in the populatio n was estimated from the control group. Aspirin intake in the previous 7 da ys in cases and in controls was compared by logistic regression, adjusted F or other gastrotoxic drugs intake. Results - low-dose aspirin is taken by about 1.2 millions adults in France. In 1 602 patients, gastrointestinal bleeding was related to a peptic ulcer in 34%. Aspirin was associated with higher risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding: OR = 1.68 (1.03-2.74) with low-dose, and OR 1.42 (0.97-2.21) with higher doses. Conclusion - About 2.8% of the population is exposed to low-dose aspirin in France. This treatment seems to be associated with a high risk of upper ga strointestinol bleeding.