Table 3

- Summary of isotretinoin-related epistaxis in the study population.

VariableTotal study population (N=230)P-value*Male group (n=33)Female group (n=197)P-value§
Prevalence of epistaxis
Yes104 (45.2%)0.203014 (42.4%)90 (45.7%)0.8505
No126 (54.8%)19 (57.6%)107 (54.3%)
Past history of nose bleeding before isotretinoin therapy
Yes20 (8.7%)<0.0001*3 (9.1%)17 (8.6%)0.9306
No210 (91.3%)30 (90.9%)180 (91.4%)
Prevalence of epistaxis among patients with prior history of nasal bleeding
Yes18/20 (90.0%)<0.001*3 (15%)15 (75%)<0.05§
No2/20 (10.0%)1 (5%)1 (5%)
Prevalence of epistaxis among patients with dry nose
Yes75/155 (48.4%)<0.05*34 (21.9%)41 (26.5%)0.9411
No80/155 (51.62%)45 (29%)35 (22.6%)
Prevalence of epistaxis among patients with obstructed nose
Yes53/77 (68.83%)<0.001*22 (28.6%)31 (40.3%)0.05*
No24/77 (31.17%)5 (6.5%)19 (24.7%)
Severity of epistaxis
1st degree76/104 (73.1%)<0.0001*10/14 (71.4%)66/90 (73.3%)0.8812
2nd degree28/104 (26.9%)4/14 (28.6%)24/90 (26.7%)
Frequency of epistaxis
1st degree71/104 (68.3%)<0.0001*11/14 (78.6%)60/90 (66.7%)0.6584
2nd degree24/104 (23.1%)2/14 (14.3%)22/90 (24.4%)
3rd degree9/104 (8.6%)1/14 (7.1%)8/90 (8.9%)
Duration of epistaxis
Less than 10 minutes95/104 (91.4%)<0.0001*12/14 (85.7%)83/90 (92.2%)0.7682
10-30 minutes9/104 (8.6%)2/14 (14.3%)7/90 (7.8%)
Need of blood transfusion after epistaxis
Yes2/104 (1.9%)<0.0001*0/14 (0%)2/90 (2.2%)0.5733
No102/104 (98.1%)14/14 (100%)88/90 (97.8%)
Management of epistaxis in emergency room
Yes7/104 (6.7%)<0.0001*2/14 (14.3%)5/90 (5.6%)0.5225
No97/104 (93.3%)12/14 (85.7%)85/90 (94.4%)
Need for hospital admission for managing epistaxis
Yes2/104 (1.9%)<0.0001*0/14 (0%)2/90 (2.2%)0.5733
No102/104 (98.1%)14/14 (100%)88/90 (97.8%)

Values are presented as number and (%).

  • ↵* Statistically significant difference between variables in the total study population (p<0.05).

  • ↵§ Statistically significant difference between male and female groups (p<0.05).