Clinical and endoscopic findings of patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Khartoum, Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding remains a significant medical emergency with considerable morbidity and mortality rates. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is a key procedure because of its diagnostic and therapeutic value. Understanding the clinical picture as well as the expected endoscopic variations in the area can potentially improve fatal complications. This study aimed to describe the clinical presentations, laboratory findings, and endoscopic patterns of affected patients in a tertiary bleeding centre in Khartoum, Sudan.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a bleeding centre in Khartoum, Sudan, and data from 513 patients presenting over 12 months were analysed. Demographic data, clinical presentations, laboratory investigations, and endoscopy outcomes were collected and analysed via appropriate tests at a 95% confidence interval (p value < 0.05).

Results: The study population comprised 369 males (71%) and 144 females (28%), with a mean age of 52 years. Esophageal and gastric varices were prevalent in 311 (60.6%) and 109 (21.2%) of the patients, respectively, whereas a total of 181 (35.3%) had a positive history of schistosomiasis. Esophageal and gastric varices were significantly associated with rebleeding (p-value < 0.001).

Conclusion: Esophageal and gastric varices are the commonest endoscopic findings, with schistosomiasis present as a comorbid condition in one-third of patients. Both conditions are associated with significant recurrence rates. This study highlights the need to address the schistosomiasis burden in Sudan and recommends further studies to follow up on the progress of the condition.