Background/aims: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-dose aspirin (50-150 mg/d) on the severity of ischemic colitis.
Materials and methods: A total of 244 patients admitted to our hospital for ischemic colitis between 2013 and 2018 were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups-aspirin and non-aspirin groups-based on their recent history of aspirin use before the onset of ischemic colitis. Clinical performance, biochemical indices, and endoscopic findings were compared.
Results: The average age and the proportion of underlying disease, including hypertension, cerebral infarction, and coronary heart disease in the aspirin group was significantly higher than those in the non-aspirin group (p<0.05). In terms of clinical symptoms, the proportion of diarrhea in the aspirin group was significantly higher than that in the non-aspirin group, while the proportion of abdominal pain was significantly lower in the aspirin group compared with the non-aspirin group. Colonoscopy results showed that the incidence of ulceration was significantly higher in the aspirin group than in the non-aspirin group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of low-dose aspirin may aggravate the severity and mask the symptoms of abdominal pain in ischemic colitis.