ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: The incidence of peptic ulcer disease has steadily declined throughout the world. The influence of seasonal changes on the incidence of peptic ulcer disease is not well established. The aim of the study was to identify the changing trends in the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease from a tertiary referral center in south India and to study the seasonal variation in the occurrence of peptic ulcer. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the endoscopic records between the years 1989 to 2004. Results: There was a significant decrease in the endoscopic diagnosis of duodenal and gastric ulcers (DU and GU) over the years. Both duodenal and gastric ulcers were more common in men than women. Over the years, there was a steady increase in the proportion of women affected with both DU and GU. A steady increase in the mean age of endoscopic diagnosis of GU and DU was seen over the years. The adjusted seasonal index revealed an increase in the endoscopic diagnosis of GU and DU in the months October – March. Conclusion: The endoscopic diagnosis of DU and GU has shown a decreasing trend over the past 16 years. The adjusted seasonal index has shown an increasing trend between the months of October- March.