Peptic ulcer admission rates were known to be declining in England and Wales in younger men and women at least until 1977, but rates in elderly men were stable and rates in older women were increasing. Analysis of the most recently available data shows that these trends have continued in England and Wales and similar trends are seen in the elderly populations in Scotland. Reasons for the increasing susceptibility of elderly people, particularly older women, to peptic ulceration are not clear. However, altered smoking habits seem unlikely to explain the change, whereas increased use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may account for part of it.