epidemiology
Last reviewed 12/2022
Perforated peptic ulcer occurs in men more then women and has its highest incidence in the 40 to 60 year age groups.
Other epidemiological points of note:
- often associated with NSAIDs or steroid treatment in patients with peptic ulcer disease
- more rarely associated with stress such as trauma and major burns
- perforations of duodenal ulcers are three times more common than gastric ulcer perforations
- gastric ulcer perforations are:
- uncommon
- most common in the elderly
- in a third due to perforation of a gastric carcinoma
- oesophageal peptic ulcers are a very rare cause of peptic ulcer perforation