Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Mar 27, 2023; 15(3): 408-419
Published online Mar 27, 2023. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i3.408
Table 1 Patient background and medications, n (%)
ParameterAEML (n = 105)
RE-D (n = 48)
Risk ratio (95%CI)
P value
Black esophagus (n = 19)
Non-black esophagus (n = 86)
Age in yr, median (IQR)75.0 (65.0–85.0)87.0 (78.0–91.3)0.34< 0.001
83.0 (71.5–86.0)75.0 (65.0–84.0)
Male61 (58.1)13 (27.1)2.15 (1.31–3.51)< 0.001
11 (57.9)50 (58.1)
Chief complaint0.713
Hematemesis30 (28.3)16 (33.3)
6 (31.6)24 (27.9)
Black vomiting65 (61.0)26 (54.2)
10 (52.6)54 (62.8)
Black stools11 (10.5)6 (12.5)
3 (15.8)8 (9.3)
Presence of shock vitality29 (27.6)8 (16.7)1.66 (0.82–3.35)0.16
6 (31.6)23 (26.7)
Underlying conditions
Hypertension49 (46.7)23 (47.9)0.97 (0.68–1.39)1
13 (68.4)36 (41.9)
Diabetes mellitus23 (22.1)4 (8.3)2.63 (0.96–7.18)0.043
4 (21.1)19 (22.4)
Chronic kidney disease19 (18.3)7 (14.6)1.24 (0.56–2.75)0.649
5 (26.3)14 (16.5)
Coronary artery disease13 (12.4)1 (2.1)5.94 (0.8–44.14)0.065
3 (15.8)10 (11.6)
Liver cirrhosis3 (2.9)2 (4.2)0.69 (0.12–3.97)0.649
0 (0.0)3 (3.5)
Previous malignancy30 (28.6)5 (10.4)2.74 (1.13–6.63)0.013
7 (36.8)23 (26.7)
Medications
NSAIDs13 (12.4)2 (4.2)2.97 (0.70–12.66)0.148
3 (15.8)10 (11.6)
Antithrombotic28 (26.7)17 (35.4)0.75 (0.46–1.24)0.339
3 (15.8)25 (29.1)
Steroids4 (3.8)1 (2.1)1.83 (0.21–15.93)1
0 (0.0)4 (4.7)
Antibiotics8 (7.6)1 (2.1)3.66 (0.47–28.4)0.274
2 (10.5)6 (7.0)
Acid blockers42 (40.4)15 (31.2)1.28 (0.79–2.07)0.368
10 (52.6)32 (37.6)
Table 2 Blood sampling data
ParameterAEML (n = 105)
RE-D (n = 48)
Effect size, r
P value
Black esophagus (n = 19)
Non-black esophagus (n = 86)
White blood cell in μL, median (IQR)11650 (8300–14700)8700 (6750–10925)0.26< 0.001
13100 (8750–16700)11200 (8225–14500)
Hemoglobin in g/dL, (mean ± SD)10.70 (3.47)9.45 (2.81)0.20.026
10.53 (3.58)10.78 (3.46)
Albumin in g/dL, (mean ± SD)3.11 (0.97)3.00 (0.74)0.060.483
2.91 (1.14)3.15 (0.93)
BUN in mg/dL, median (IQR)36.60 (20.50–62.40)28.05 (16.90–37.92)0.210.009
35.10 (18.95– 67.85)39.20 (20.65–61.90)
Creatinine in mg/dL, median (IQR)1.10 (0.87– 2.32)0.80 (0.63–0.94)0.37< 0.001
1.34 (0.90–2.63)1.09 (0.84–2.10)
Glucose in mg/dL, median (IQR)141 (110–196)124.00 (99.00–147.00)0.200.015
137 (106–172)145 (111–203)
CRP in mg/dL, median (IQR)1.59 (0.35–5.22)0.45 (0.23–1.93)0.240.003
1.37 (0.31–4.68)1.64 (0.38–5.48)
Lactate in mmol/L, median (IQR)3.18 (1.96–5.14)1.81 (1.38–2.38)0.40< 0.001
3.45 (2.76–6.31)3.02 (1.94–4.75)
Table 3 Comorbidities at onset, n (%)

AEML (n = 105)
RE-D (n = 48)
Risk ratio (95%CI)
P value
Black esophagus (n = 19)
Non-black esophagus (n = 86)
Comorbidities61 (57.5)9 (18.8)3.10 (1.68–5.71)< 0.001
Infection23 (21.7)5 (10.4)
3 (15.8)20 (23.0)
Treatment for malignancy9 (8.5)0 (0.0)
4 (21.1)5 (5.7)
Prerenal failure8 (7.5)1 (2.1)
1 (5.3)7 (8.0)
After surgery7 (6.6)1 (2.1)
1 (5.3)6 (6.9)
Stroke4 (3.8)1 (2.1)
0 (0.0)4 (4.6)
Alcoholic ketoacidosis4 (3.8)0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)4 (4.6)
Diabetic ketoacidosis/Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome2 (1.9)0 (0.0)
1 (5.3)1 (1.1)
Pulmonary embolism1 (0.9)0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)1 (1.1)
Peripheral arterial disease1 (0.9)0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)1 (1.1)
Duodenal ulcer1 (0.9)0 (0.0)
0 (0.0)1 (1.1)
Liver disease1 (0.9)0 (0.0)
1 (5.3)0 (0.0)
Heart failure0 (0.0)1 (2.1)
0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
Table 4 Need for endoscopic hemostasis and endoscopic findings, n (%)
AEML (n = 105)
RE-D (n = 48)
Risk ratio (95%CI)
P value
Black esophagus (n = 19)
Non-black esophagus (n = 86)
Need of endoscopic hemostasis6 (5.7)11 (22.9)0.25 (0.10–0.63)0.004
0 (0.0)6 (7.0)
Hiatus hernia77/103 (74.8)46/47 (97.9)0.76 (0.68–0.86)< 0.001
14/18 (77.8)64/85 (74.4)
Gastric atrophy39 (36.8)15 (31.2)1.19 (0.73–1.94)0.586
5 (26.3)34 (39.1)
Gastric ulcer31 (29.2)1 (2.1)14.17 (1.99–100.79)< 0.001
8 (42.1)23 (26.4)
Duodenal ulcer21 (19.8)3 (6.2)3.20 (1.00–10.21)0.033
5 (26.3)16 (18.4)
Table 5 Outcomes in patients, n (%)

AEML (n = 106)
RE-D (n = 48)
Risk ratio (95%CI)
P value
Black esophagus (n = 19)
Non-black esophagus (n = 87)
Mortality during hospitalization15 (14.2)2 (4.2)3.43 (0.82–14.40)0.094
5 (26.3)10 (11.5)
Esophageal stenosis4 (3.8)0 (0.0)0.309
0 (0.0)4 (4.6)