Gastrointestinal bleedings

This is an observational study in which patient data from the past of adults in Finland who have had bleeding in the digestive tract are collected and studied.
In observational studies, only observations are made without specified advice or interventions. No visits or tests are required.
Bleeding in the digestive tract, also called gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), can occur anywhere in the digestive tract. They are called upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) when they occur in the esophagus, stomach, or upper part of the small intestine, and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) when they occur in the small or large intestine. Risk factors of GIB include smoking, alcohol use, various diseases, or older age. In addition, GIBs are known side effects of certain drugs such as blood thinners, drugs given for pain and fever (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or for depression and anxiety (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). To better understand the impact of these drugs on GIBs and the impact of other risk factors, more knowledge is needed about GIBs and the various risk factors in the general population.

The main purpose of this study is to learn more about the occurrence and risk factors of GIBs in the Finish population aged 25 to 74 years.

To do this, researchers will collect data from a Finnish survey and other sources of health data to find out the number of people who had UGIB or LGIB. In addition, characteristics of people with GIB and their risk factors will be studied.
The collected data will cover the period from 1987 to 2016 (depending on availability).