ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bleeding peptic ulcer in elderly patients is believed to differ from that found in younger patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of bleeding peptic ulcer in elderly Korean patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 113 patients who were admitted to an emergency room for peptic ulcer bleeding from January 2006 to August 2008. For each patient, we investigated the clinical manifestations, the treatments and the hospital course. RESULTS: Peptic ulcer bleeding was more prevalent in elderly patients (n=63) than in younger patients (n=50). The elderly group had a higher incidence of comorbidities such as hypertension, stroke and ischemic heart disease, which might have be attributable to higher usage of aspirin and antiplatelet agents. There were no differences in the chief complaints or laboratory findings. The rate of Helicobacter pylori infection was lower in the elderly patients than that in the younger patients (41.3% vs. 62.0%, respectively, p=0.029). Four elderly patients and one younger patient died while in hospital, with one patient in each group dying due to bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Peptic ulcer bleeding in elderly patients was associated with higher usage of aspirin and antiplatelet agents. There were no significant differences between the elderly and younger patients for the initial clinical presentation, the hospital course or the mortality due to bleeding.