Aim: Our study aims to provide a more holistic understanding of the available data and predictive risk factors for gastrointestinal bleed (GIB). Materials & methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science Core Collection and calculated relative risk and meta-regression was utilized to evaluate for risk factors in order to assess the effect of covariates. Results: Our meta-analysis reported a pooled prevalence rate of GIB of 24.4%. Meta-regression analysis did not yield a statistically significant association between GIB and risk factors, including age, gender, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Conclusion: Studies investigating larger sample sizes are required for conclusive findings.
Keywords: LVAD; gastrointestinal bleeding; left ventricular assist devices; meta-analysis; recurrent bleed; systematic review.