Environmental and Clinical Factors Concerning Gastrointestinal Bleeding: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses

Objectives: Gastrointestinal bleeding, an emergency and critical disease, is affected by multiple factors. This study aims to systematically summarize and appraise various factors associated with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Design: Umbrella review.

Setting and participants: Meta-analyses that evaluated environmental and clinical factors concerning gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search to identify eligible meta-analyses. For each included study, the risk estimates, heterogeneity estimates, small-study effects, excess significance tests, and publication biases were recalculated and appraised. Furthermore, we considered the methodologic quality and classified the evidence.

Results: In this study, 51 beneficial and 44 harmful associations were found. This study found that preemptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was the most reliable treatment to reduce gastroesophageal variceal bleeding and mortality risk, followed by antibiotics. For gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding, Yunnan Baiyao and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were relatively dependable treatment drugs, and the comparatively reliable prophylactic drugs comprised PPIs and H₂-receptor antagonists. Patients with hemodynamic instability and larger ulcers had a higher risk of rebleeding. Both weekend admissions and the combination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were high-risk factors for upper gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality. We also found that tranexamic acid was a credible drug for overall gastrointestinal bleeding. Meanwhile, aspirin, warfarin, diabetes, and renal failure were all high-risk factors.

Conclusions and implications: Altogether, many factors can substantially influence gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, in daily life and clinical practice, we should not only remain cautious in prescribing and taking some drugs but also pay attention to the management of lifestyle and underlying diseases. If necessary, protective drugs should be properly supplemented.