OBJECTIVES The role of the Helicobacter pylori, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antiplatelet agents in the risk of peptic ulcer bleeding has not yet been established. This study was performed to identify the risk factors for peptic ulcer bleeding compared with non-bleeding peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 475 patients, 265 with bleeding PUD and 210 with non-bleeding PUD were consecutively recruited. H. pylori status was determined by histology, rapid urease test, and culture. Exposure to NSAIDs, aspirin, and antiplatelet agents (clopidogrel and ticlopidine) within 4 weeks was obtained.

RESULTS Compared with non-bleeding PUD, bleeding PUD had a higher proportion of male gender and current smoking, alcohol drinking, history of aspirin/antiplatelet use, and history of PUD. Whereas the proportion of H. pylori infection and history of H. pylori eradication in bleeding PUD were significantly lower than that in non-bleeding PUD. In multivariate analysis, male gender (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.10-2.89), drinking alcohol (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.29-3.14), aspirin/antiplatelet use (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.45-3.82), and history of PUD (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.36-4.46) remained independent risk factors for bleeding PUD. When H. pylori status and aspirin/antiplatelet agent use were combined, highest risk of bleeding peptic ulcers was found among H. pylori-negative patients with a history of aspirin/antiplatelet agent use (OR 3.03 95% CI 1.48-6.18) compared with H. pylori-positive patients with no history of aspirin/antiplatelet agent use.

CONCLUSIONS Patients with H. pylori-negative peptic ulcers who continuously took aspirin or antiplatelet agents had the highest peptic ulcer bleeding risk.