In a retrospective observational study comparing patients both on and not on antithromotics (DOAC/warfarin or anti platelets) who presented with a GI bleed these authors found:
“Patients with anticoagulant therapy more often present with a lower source of GI bleeding than both those on antiplatelet medications and those with no antithrombotics. Overall patients on anticoagulants are also less likely to present with hematemesis, even with a later confirmed upper GI bleeding. Furthermore, results indicate that the need for endoscopic interventions and transfusions are dependent on initial presenting symptoms but not affected by antithrombotic therapy at admission.”
References
Forsberg-Puckett, A., Wurm Johansson, G. & Regnér, S. Presentation of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with antithrombotic therapy, results from a consecutive retrospective cohort. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med33, 146 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-025-01431-1
