Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res.  2014 Mar;14(1):31-38. 10.7704/kjhugr.2014.14.1.31.

Clinical Characteristics of Peptic Ulcer Disease in Korea

• Lee MY
• Kim JS
• Kim BW
• Kim TH
• Chung WC
• Kim JI
• Park JM
• Jeon EJ
• Kim SS
• Lee DS

• KMID: 2305152
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7704/kjhugr.2014.14.1.31

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Clinical presentation and patterns of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) have changed because surival of people in Korea have increased. Other factors such as declining Helicobacter pylori infection rate and increased consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) including aspirin also affect the clinical patterns of PUD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current clinical characteristics of PUD in Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was performed from March 2011 to September 2012 in 8 institutions affiliated to the Catholic University of Korea. When the patients were diagnosed with PUD during endoscopic examination, questionnaires including life style of the patients and the endoscopic findings were obtained. The questionnaires were composed of region of residency, occupational history, blood type, clinical symptoms and signs at the presentation, alcohol history, smoking history, and consumption of drugs such as NSAID. We also analyzed the endoscopic findings of PUD including the numbers, locations, stages, and complications.
RESULTS
A total 815 patients were recruited in this study. The mean age was 56.3+/-14.5 years old and 496 patients (60.9%) were men. The proportion of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and combined gastric and duodenal ulcer was 57.3%, 32.1%, and 10.6%, respectively. H. pylori infection was detected in 548 patients (67.2%) and drug-related PUD was found in 278 patients (34.1%). Complication such as bleeding, obstruction, and perforation was found in 174 patients (21.3%).
CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori-related PUD is still high in Korea. Among patients with PUD, elderly patients consume much more drugs such as NSAIDs compared to younger patients.

Keyword

Peptic ulcer; Helicobacter pylori; Anti-inflammatory agents; non-steroidal

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Aspirin
Duodenal Ulcer
Helicobacter pylori
Hemorrhage
Humans
Internship and Residency
Korea*
Life Style
Male
Peptic Ulcer*
Smoke
Smoking
Stomach Ulcer
Surveys and Questionnaires
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Aspirin
Smoke