Female upsurge in incidence of gastric ulcer and relation with parity

ABSTRACT

476 patients underwent Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi over a eight year period [1985-1992]. All presented with clinical features suggestive of peptic ulcer. Most of the patients suffering from duodenal ulcer were males [79%]. A female predominance was seen in gastric ulcer [63%] which further increased [77%] when only ulcers in the body of the stomach were taken into consideration. An increasing intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] is thought to be the likely cause of the female upsurge in gastric ulcer incidence. However, the relation with parity is also a strong contributory factor to the higher female incidence of gastric ulcer