Title:Low Frequency of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Despite Non-Steroidal
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Corticosteroids in Patients with
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Volume: 20
Issue: 5
Author(s): Wilder Carvajal-Gutiérrez, María A. Cisneros-Cisneros, Omar-Javier Calixto*, Maria-Alejandra Meneses-Toro, Andrés Jesús Prada Rueda, Merardo A. Vega-Báez, Duván A. Álvarez-Vargas, Adriana C. Uscátegui-Ruiz, Consuelo Romero-Sanchez and Juan-Manuel Bello-Gualtero
Affiliation:
- Rheumatology and Immunology Department,
Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia
- Clinical Immunology Group-Hospital Militar, School of Medicine,
Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Group / INMUBO, Universidad
El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, safety, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, multivariate analysis.
Abstract:
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease. It has been
identified that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids can be essential
risk factors for developing complications such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB).
Objective: This study aimed to describe the safety profile of drugs used to treat RA focused in
UGIB.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with RA between 2015 and 2021, a description of
the population, and an evaluation of the relationship with UGIB through bivariate analysis and logistic
regression.
Results: Of 405 individuals, 16 presented UGIB (93.8% women, mean age was 65±13.6 years).
No statistically significant differences were found regarding UGIB and medication use, except for
the mean dose of corticosteroids. In the multivariate analysis, it was found that the presence of anemia
in the last three months had an adjusted OR (AOR) of 16.1 (95% CI 2.74- 24.23) and higher
HAQ values during the previous three months had an AOR of 6.17 (95% CI 1.79- 21.24).
Conclusion: This study found a low frequency of UGIB in patients with RA. More significant disability
and anemia in the previous months were independently associated with UGIB. The low frequency
of NSAID use in this population is noteworthy. In general, reasonable medication use related
to this complication is recommended.