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Seasonal Variation of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding in Brazzaville

¹ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
² Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
³ Department of Clinical Oncology, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
⁵ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
⁶ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
⁷ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
⁸ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
⁹ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
¹⁰ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
¹¹ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
¹² Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
¹³ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
¹⁴ Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Brazzaville University Hospital, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
¹⁵ Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

Open Journal of Gastroenterology·Volume 15 (2025)·Pages 685–693·Published 7 November 2025·DOI10.4236/ojgas.2025.1511063

Abstract

Introduction: Seasonal variation of upper gastrointestinal bleeding has been reported in many studies. Concerning the seasons’ influence on the incidence of esophageal variceal bleeding, there is no data from the Republic of Congo. Aims: Our aim was to assess seasonal variations in hospitalizations related to variceal bleeding in our setting and determine whether a particular month or period of the year is at high risk of variceal bleeding. Method s : We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using Data of all the patients hospitalized in the gastroenterology unit of the Brazzaville university hospital from January 2014 to December 2023 with a diagnosis of acute variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Demographic data, seasonal, and monthly variation were analyzed. Results: A total of 177 patients hospitalized with esophageal variceal bleeding were included. The highest number of hospitalizations was reported in June (25 patients), and the lowest was reported in November (7 patients). The majority of variceal bleeding patients (40.7%) were recorded between May 16 and September 15, corresponding to the long dry season. Conclusions: There is a seasonal variation in hospitalizations for esophageal variceal bleeding in Brazzaville. The highest number of hospitalizations was seen in the long dry season, which is the colder period of the year.

KeywordsSeasonal VariationEsophageal Variceal BleedingCHUBBrazzaville

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Seasonal Variation of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding in Brazzaville

Abstract

References (26)