EFFECT OF RAMADAN ON PEPTIC-ULCER COMPLICATIONS

Background: Fasting during the month of Ramadan provides researchers w ith a good opportunity to study experimental hunger. Methods: The case histories of patients brought to Ankara Numune Hospital and hospitali zed there because of peptic ulcer complaints during the period 1987-92 were retrospectively studied. Results: The ratio of peptic ulcer comp lications was in all the years of the study higher during Ramadan than during the periods before Ramadan (0.05 > p > 0.01) and after Ramadan (0.1 > p > 0.05). Female patients tended to develop more haemorrhage and perforations during Ramadan. In the peptic ulcer perforation group the average age of women was significantly higher during Ramadan, whe reas it was significantly lower in men. Conclusions: A type of partial hunger during Ramadan increased peptic ulcer complications.