The application of a risk scoring system after acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the elderly

Objective To evaluate the application of a risk scoring system in the elderly with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Methods Using a numerical risk scoring system, 300 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage were reviewed for rebleeding and death. Results The overall score in 140 elderly patients (4 3±1 9) was slightly higher than that in 160 non elderly patients (2 9±2 2). The elderly patients had higher overall rebleeding rate (25 0%) and mortality rate (22 1%) than the rate in non elderly patients (14 4% and 11 9% respectively). The rebleeding and mortality rate increased as the risk score increased in the two groups. Conclusions The risk scoring system is applicable to predict early risk of rebleeding and mortality as well as guide clinical treatment in the elderly patients with upper GI hemorrhage.