| [ Summary ] |
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a more serious disorder in the elderly than in younger individuals and often has in an atypical course with a greater tendency toward complications. PUD can be classified into two groups based on the analysis of its clinical course. One group which shows typical features of PUD in the elderly, specifically symptoms tending to be more poorly defined and variable than in younger adults. The other group shows features typical of those in younger individuals. An important finding of some studies is that risk factors (H.pylori or NSAID) in the elderly differ from those in younger patients. The incidence of H.pylori infection was no higher in the elderly patients with than in those without ulcers. Approximately 70% of H.pylori positive elderly patients with PUD were taking NSAID. Therefore, PUD was significantly associated with NSAID use, but not with H.pylori, in the elderly. |