Short‐Term Mortality Rate and Predictors for Older Patients With Liver Cirrhosis–Associated Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) is a life‐threatening complication of liver cirrhosis. Clinical characteristics and predictors for short‐term mortality in older patients with liver cirrhosis–associated AUGIB remain little known. Consecutive cirrhotic patients with AUGIB admitted in the Department of Emergency from April 1st, 2021, to Dec 31st, 2022, were analyzed. Clinical characteristics of older cirrhotic patients with AUGIB and predictors for short‐term mortality were analyzed. A total of 628 patients aged ≥ 60 years constituted the older group. Compared with the control group (age < 60 years), all‐cause in‐hospital mortality and 6‐week mortality were higher (16.7% vs. 9.25%, p < 0.001; 24.0% vs. 15.6%, p < 0.001), respectively, in older patients. Female gender and melena were independent predictors for both in‐hospital mortality and 6‐week mortality. Esophageal sclerotherapy, moderate–severe encephalopathy, hyperlipoidemia, and coexisting portal vein thrombosis (PVT)/diabetes mellitus (DM) were independent predictors for in‐hospital mortality, whereas an unknown source of AUGIB and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were independent predictors for 6‐week mortality. In older cirrhotic patients with AUGIB, female gender and melena contribute to lower in‐hospital mortality and 6‐week mortality. Esophageal sclerotherapy, control of DM, treatment of encephalopathy, and PVT are beneficial in reducing in‐hospital mortality. An unknown source of AUGIB and HCC enhance 6‐week mortality.