SEASONAL IMPACTS ON THE INCIDENCE OF EASOPHAGEAL VARICEAL BLEEDING

Aims The impact of low air temperature on esophageal variceal bleeding has yielded conflicting results. We aimed to explore the impact of seasonal variation on the occurrence and prognosis of variceal bleeding.

Methods A cross-sectional study from January 2014 to June 2021 in the department of gastroenterology of habib thameur Hospital of Tunisia was conducted. We included cirrhotic patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Our primary aim was to assess seasonal variations in variceal bleeding-related hospitalizations. The secondary aims were to assess the impact of seasonal variation on outcomes in variceal bleeding including in-hospital mortality.

Results A total of 83 patients hospitalized with esophageal variceal bleeding were included. The average age was 63.7 years. The gastrointestinal bleeding was inaugural in 43.3%. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of the patients had post hepatitis B or C virus cirrhosis. The highest number of hospitalizations was reported in September (15%) then january (12%) and the lowest was reported in June (2%). Winter was associated with in-hospital mortality (p=0.05): The highest rate was in January (22%) and lowest rate in June (0%) regardless of age, sex, decompensated cirrhosis, Child pugh classification and etiology of liver disease. There was no significant difference in hospital length of stay across all months in all years combined.

Conclusions There appears to be a seasonal variation in the incidence of variceal hemorrhage as well as in the in hospital mortality. September was the month with the highest number of daily hospitalizations while the nadir occurred in June.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022