THE TRENDS FOR PEPTIC-ULCER DISEASE IN DENMARK, 1983-1993 - ANALYSIS OF HOSPITALIZATION REGISTER AND MORTALITY DATA

Background: Since the mid-1980s there has been great improvement in th e available diagnostic tools and treatments for peptic ulcers. The aim of this study was to determine whether these improvements have been p aralleled bu decreasing age-and sex-specific hospitalization and death rates for peptic ulcers in Denmark. Methods: The study was based on a ll discharges From Danish somatic hospitals as registered in the Natio nal Hospital Discharge Registry and all the death certificates as regi stered in the Danish National Board of Health from 1981 through 1993, when a diagnosis of peptic ulcer was recorded. The age- and sex-specif ic and age-adjusted hospitalization and death rates were estimated. Re sults: In men the age-adjusted hospitalization rate for all types of p eptic ulcers decreased by 0.88, but the mortality increased by 1.19. I n women the age-adjusted hospitalization and mortality increased for a ll types of peptic ulcers. The increasing mortality was mainly due to bleeding and perforated duodenal ulcers. The analysis of the age-speci fic hospitalization and mortality for peptic ulcer complications showe d that the increasing trends mainly occurred among the elderly. Conclu sion: The improved medical treatment of peptic ulcers has not been par alleled by decreasing hospitalization or death from complicated peptic ulcers in Denmark. On the contrary, we found an increasing hospitaliz ation and mortality from peptic ulcer complications, particularly in e lderly Danish people.