Background Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) is a common medical emergency with evolving demographics and management strategies, particularly in medical/endoscopic therapy and transfusion strategies. Objective To provide key data of the most recent 2022 UK audit and compare it with the preceding audit in 2007.
Design Prospective multicentre audit conducted from 3 May to 2 July 2022, including adults (≥16 years) with AUGIB across 147 UK hospitals (response rate 86% vs 84% in 2007). AUGIB was defined by clinical symptoms (haematemesis, haematochezia, coffee ground vomiting or melaena confirmed by medical personnel).
Patients were followed until discharge, death or 28 days, with re-admissions during the study period counted as new episodes. Results Among 5141 patients (59% male; median age 69), 15% had cirrhosis, 19% reported excess alcohol use, 7% used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 46% were on antithrombotics.
Most (77%) were new admissions, who were younger with fewer comorbidities, while the remainder bled during hospitalisation. Peptic ulcer disease accounted for 32% of cases, varices for 10% and no abnormality was found in 33%.
Gut (BMJ) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 06 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the UK: 2022 audit update.
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