What does this research mean for the field?

Geriatric patients experience more adverse outcomes from lower gastrointestinal bleeding, but anticoagulant and antiplatelet use does not significantly affect clinical outcomes. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the effects of age and antithrombotic medication use on 30-day mortality, endoscopic therapy, transfusion requirements, surgical or embolization needs, and length of hospital stay in lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

February 9, 2026BMC GastroenterologyOpen Access

Effects of age and drug use on lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a retrospective single-center experience

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

In patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, age ≥65 years was associated with a higher 30-day mortality rate (7.0% vs 0%, p=0.02), while anticoagulant and antiplatelet use did not significantly affect clinical outcomes.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (n=181). Intervention: Age ≥65 years and anticoagulant/antiplatelet medication use vs. Age <65 years and no medication use. Primary outcome: 30-day mortality (p=0.02).

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Key result

Age ≥65 linked to higher 30-day mortality in lower GI bleeding, reaching ~7% vs 0%.

P=0.02
n=181

Why the study?

Does age and the use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications affect 30-day mortality and clinical outcomes in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding?

Design

Retrospective single-center study

Authors

SÖSoner Önem İGİbrahim Ethem GüvenMinistry of Health MDMurat Derebey

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Supports age-based risk stratification in lower GI bleeding; leaves open antithrombotic effects in this observational cohort.

Key Points

To examine the effects of age and antithrombotic medication use on 30-day mortality, endoscopic therapy, transfusion requirements, surgical or embolization needs, and length of hospital stay in lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
Retrospective cohort analysis of 181 patients admitted with lower gastrointestinal bleeding who underwent colonoscopy at Samsun Education and Research Hospital between 03.2023 and 03.2025.
Patients were categorized into two age groups (<65 years vs. ≥65 years), with older patients further evaluated by their specific anticoagulant or antiplatelet regimens.
Of 181 patients, 113 (62.4%) were aged over 65 years and 68 (37.6%) were under 65 years, with colonic diverticula causing 39% of bleeding in geriatric patients versus hemorrhoids/anal fissures causing 35% in younger patients.
The geriatric group had higher 30-day mortality, higher transfusion rates, greater numbers of transfusions, and longer hospital stays.
While 105 patients (58%) received anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, medication history in geriatric patients did not affect endoscopic treatment, 30-day mortality, surgical needs, transfusion amounts, or hospital stay.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=181)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does age and the use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications affect 30-day mortality and clinical outcomes in patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding?

Population

181 adult patients presenting to the emergency department with lower gastrointestinal bleeding who underwent colonoscopy, evaluated for 30-day clinical outcomes.

Exposure

Age ≥65 years (geriatric) and/or use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications

Comparator

Age <65 years (non-geriatric) and/or no medication use

Outcome

30-day mortalityhard clinical

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 7% vs 0%

p-value: p=0.02

While lower gastrointestinal bleeding has worse outcomes in geriatric patients, the use of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications does not significantly worsen clinical outcomes in this population.

Limitations

Retrospective single-center design with a limited patient cohort
Exclusion of patients hospitalized for reasons unrelated to bleeding or who developed LGIB during hospitalization
Difficulty ascertaining whether mortality in the very elderly was exclusively attributable to bleeding or overall health decline

Cite This Study

Önem et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (n=181). Age ≥65 years and anticoagulant/antiplatelet medication use vs. Age <65 years and no medication use was evaluated on 30-day mortality (p=0.02). In patients with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, age ≥65 years was associated with a higher 30-day mortality rate (7.0% vs 0%, p=0.02), while anticoagulant and antiplatelet use did not significantly affect clinical outcomes.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69897983f0ec2af6756e72c8 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-026-04646-3

Topics

Dual antiplatelet therapy

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Effects of age and drug use on lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a retrospective single-center experience

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Topics

Effects of age and drug use on lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a retrospective single-center experience

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Topics

Also Consider