Abstract

The present paper compares the temporal changes of cigarette consumption with those of peptic ulcer mortality in the United Kingdom. Cumulative cigarette consumption increased in men born between 1845 and 1915 and remained constant or decreased in all subsequent generations. It increased in women born between 1835 and 1955. In contrast, both male and female mortality from gastric and duodenal ulcer were highest in those born around 1875-1885. From the lack of coincidence in the trends of peptic ulcer mortality and cumulative cigarette consumption it is concluded that changing smoking habits were not responsible for the birth cohort patterns of the death rates from gastric and duodenal ulcer.