Table 1.

Categories of read or ICD 10 codes that might be associated with a hospital admission for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Category Order	Group name	Group definition	Probable or possible codes
1	Upper GI bleed cause	Code for known upper GI bleed diagnosis or cause. e.g. ulcer, oesophagitis, NSAID or Aspirin use, cirrhosis, upper GI malignancy etc.	Probable
2	Upper GI bleed symptom	Symptoms indicating upper GI bleed e.g. melaena, haematemesis etc.	Probable
3	Upper GI endoscopy	Any upper GI endoscopy code (Not ERCP/EUS).	Probable
4	Death (any cause)	Any code associated with death.	Probable
5	Blood transfusion	Any code for blood transfusion or cross matching.	Probable
6	Upper GI procedure	Any code for an upper GI procedure plausible for managing a bleeding episode.	Probable
7	GI bleed symptom	Any general code for GI bleed (not specifically upper or lower).	Probable
8	Upper GI diagnosis	Any other code for an upper GI pathology that might be associated with an upper GI bleed.	Possible
9	Hospital	Any code for referral, admission or discharge to hospital in a general or related specialty.	Possible
10	Upper GI symptom	Any other code for symptoms of upper GI pathology e.g. vomiting.	Possible
11	GI symptom or diagnosis	Other GI diagnoses or non specific GI symptoms(e.g. pain) excluding lower GI symptoms.	Possible
12	Alcohol	Any code indicating alcohol consumption or complications.	Possible
13	Anaemia	Any code for anaemia excluding chronic deficiency anaemias and fatigue.	Possible
14	Coagulation	Any code indicating primary or secondary clotting abnormality, or use of anti coagulation therapy.	Possible
15	Collapse	Any code indicating collapse, fall or loss of consciousness.	Possible
16	Other codes	Other codes specifying a change in health state with no specific diagnosis	Possible

Listed in Order of how Probable a Code Category Would be Associated with an Upper Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage Admission (1=Most Probable).