Towards a true prevalence of peptic ulcer: the Sørreisa gastrointestinal disorder study

Gut. 1990 Sep;31(9):989-92. doi: 10.1136/gut.31.9.989.

Abstract

This study, designed to overcome methodological problems inherent in earlier prevalence studies of peptic ulcer, was carried out in a municipality in northern Norway. It included the total population of 2027, aged 20-69 years, and comprised a questionnaire and search for previously diagnosed peptic ulcers in the local medical records for all subjects, and additional endoscopy of all subjects with dyspepsia and their matched healthy controls (n = 619). The overall prevalence was 10.5% in men and 9.5% in women, a sex ratio close to one and a higher duodenal:gastric ratio than previously reported from this region. A substantial 1% prevalence of asymptomatic ulcers was also observed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Endoscopy
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Norway
  • Peptic Ulcer / epidemiology*
  • Sex Factors