Background: Few studies have assessed factors associated with angiodysplasias during endoscopy or factors associated with symptomatic disease.
Aims: To evaluate risk factors for the presence of and contribution to symptomatic disease in patients with angiodysplasias.
Methods: We performed a systematic MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library search according to the PRISMA guidelines for studies assessing risk factors involved in angiodysplasias detected during endoscopy and factors that lead to anemia or overt bleeding. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A risk assessment was performed by selecting risk factors identified by two independent studies and/or by a large effect size.
Results: Twenty-three studies involving 92,634 participants were included. The overall quality of the evidence was moderate. Risk factors for the diagnosis of angiodysplasias during endoscopy confirmed by at least two studies were increasing age (OR 1.09 per year, 95% CI 1.04-1.1), chronic kidney disease (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.9-10.5) and cardiovascular disease (2.9, 95% CI 1.4-6.2). The risk of rebleeds was higher in the presence of multiple lesions (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.1-16.2 and 3.8, 95% CI 1.3-11.3 and 8.6, 95% CI 1.4-52.6), liver cirrhosis (OR 4.0, 95% 1.1-15.0) and prothrombin time < 30% (OR 4.2, 95% 1.1-15.4) with a moderate effect size. Multiple comorbidities were associated with an increased in-hospital mortality (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.2-4.3).
Conclusions: This systematic review identified age, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease as the most important risk factors for the diagnosis of angiodysplasias during endoscopy. Multiple lesions increase the risk of recurrent bleeding.
Keywords: Angiodysplasia/angioectasia; Disease severity; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Prognosis; Risk factors; Systematic review.