RT Book, Section A1 Laine, Loren A2 Jameson, J. Larry A2 Fauci, Anthony S. A2 Kasper, Dennis L. A2 Hauser, Stephen L. A2 Longo, Dan L. A2 Loscalzo, Joseph SR Print(0) ID 1155943516 T1 Gastrointestinal Bleeding T2 Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259644016 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1155943516 RD 2024/11/10 AB Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is the most common gastrointestinal condition leading to hospitalization in the United States, accounting for over 507,000 admissions and $4.85 billion in direct costs annually. Upper GIB (UGIB) incidence has decreased in recent decades, primarily due to decreases in GIB from ulcers. The ratio of UGIB to lower GIB (LGIB) among GIB admissions from U.S. emergency rooms is ~1.3. The case fatality of patients hospitalized with GIB has also decreased and is <3% in the United States. Patients generally die from decompensation of other underlying illnesses rather than exsanguination.