2.2. Data recording and statistics
A standardized data collection form was completed for each patient. Recorded data included demographic information and historical data: smoking history, drugs used like aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anticoagulants, alcohol consumption, previous history of peptic ulcer, presenting symptoms and co-morbid illnesses. Physical and laboratory examination findings included hemodynamic data, initial hemoglobin level, resuscitative efforts (blood transfusion requirement), Child-Pugh status and Rockall score. The endoscopic components of the database included the time interval between presentation and endoscopy, identification of the bleeding lesion, description of stigmata of bleeding and method of endoscopic hemostasis if any. Outcomes recorded included the frequency of rebleeding, surgical therapy, complications and mortality. The cause of death and the time interval (in hours) between endoscopy and death were determined.
The data were registered, tabulated and analyzed statistically using a program of SPSS version 15 to calculate frequencies and the χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test. A P value