Frequency of oesophageal varices among patients undergoing GI endoscopy

At least two thirds of cirrhotic patients develop Oesophageal Varices [OV] during their lifetime. Severe Upper Gastro Intestinal [UGI] bleeding as a complication of portal hypertension develops in about 30%-40% of cirrhotics. Despite significant improvements in the early diagnosis and treatment of oesophagogastric variceal haemorrhage, the mortality rate of first variceal haemorrhage remains high [20%-35%].Aim: To find out frequency of OV in two different areas of Karachi.Method: We prepared a register of 255 patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy at Murshid Hospital and Health Care Centre between 1999 and 2003 and compared it with 254 patients scoped at Hamdard University Hospital Karachi during the same period. At Murshid Hospital oesophageal varices were present in 58 cases 22.75%, age specific occurrence was 10.3% [20-30 years], 25.8% [>30-40 years], 63.7% [>40 years] while at Hamdard University Hospital the frequency of oesophageal varices was 18 cases 7.1%, age specific occurrence at this centre showed that all cases of oesophageal varices were above the age of 45 years. A record linkage population based study of oesophageal varices allows outcomes to be identified and workout the cost. Those at risk in the population should be informed about the future implication to their health and costs. The health service should investigate the increasing incidence and prevalence of oesophageal varices at local as well as national level