Evaluation of the relationship between bleeding severity and platelet mass index in geriatric patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the emergency department

Abstract

Aim: Platelet mass index (PMI) has been shown to be closely correlated with platelet functions in various diseases. In the present study we aimed to study the use of PMI in predicting bleeding severity and mortality in geriatric patients with acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Material and Methods: This study is a retrospective study. It enrolled patients aged 65 years or older who presented to the emergency department (ED) with upper GI bleeding. The patients’ demographic data, comorbid disorders, results of laboratory studies and endoscopic procedure, hospital outcomes and 30-day mortality rate were evaluated. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study included 167 patients. Among them, 40.1% were female, and their median age was 79 (IQR 25-75, 71-86) years. The median Rockall score was 4 (IQR 25-75, 2-5); and 30-day mortality rate was 13.2 % (n=22). The most common cause of bleeding was duodenal/gastric ulcer and/or erosive gastritis. A comparison of the non-surviving and surviving patients showed that the non-survivor ones were hemodynamically more unstable, had a greater rate of heart failure, higher BUN, creatinine, and Rockall score, and lower platelet count, albumin, and PMI (p=0.026, p=0.029, p=0.048, p=0.018, p=0.013, p