Changes in Peptic Ulcer and Gastritis/Duodenitis in Great Britain, 1970–1985

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Abstract
The signal event of the 1970s in peptic ulcer disease was the introduction of H2 blockers. We examined changing direct and indirect effects of peptic ulcer and gastritis/duodenitis on the British population from 1970 to 1985. Death rates from gastric ulcer declined irregularly for all except women 65 years of age and older, in whom it increased, while for duodenal ulcer mortality declined only for men less than 65 years old and increased sharply for women 65 years and above. Mortality due to gastritis/duodenitis rose irregularly to 1980 and then fell inconsistently through 1985, and was but 1.0 to 1.5% that of peptic ulcer. Elderly women were disproportionately affected, much as with peptic ulcer. There was no significant change in essentially stable time trends for peptic ulcer perforation deaths. Hospitalizations for gastric and duodenal ulcer continued to fall through 1985 except for those age 65 years and above. Hospitalizations for peptic ulcer hemorrhage did not change overall, but the distribution favoring the elderly in the early 1970s reversed. Elderly men and women are now the most likely to bleed for both gastric and duodenal ulcer. Hospitalizations for gastritis/duodenitis increased for all populations. Peptic ulcer operations declined markedly for all groups, most for men and women less than 65 years old. Peptic ulcer as a cause of work loss declined sharply over time for men but was stable for women, while work loss due to gastritis/duodenitis plunged for both sexes beginning in 1979. Mean days off work per spell of absenteeism remained relatively constant: 35–45 days for peptic ulcer and 10–12 days for gastritis/duodenitis. Work loss due to peptic ulcer and gastritis/duodenitis declined importantly relative to that for all diagnoses.

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