Epidemiology

Peptic ulcers account for up to 10% of hospital admissions. It is a common condition - there is a lifetime incidence of up to 10%.

The mortality rate is 1 in 100,000, a figure which has decreased modestly in the last few decades.(1)

In the developed world, H pylori incidence has been slowly declining over the past 50 years and NSAID use has increased. Most studies report that peptic ulcers are decreasing in prevalence over time (2)

Reference:

1. Prabhu V, Shivani A. An overview of history, pathogenesis and treatment of perforated peptic ulcer disease with evaluation of prognostic scoring in adults. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2014 Jan;4(1):22-9.
2. Azhari H, King JA, Coward S, et al. The global incidence of peptic ulcer disease is decreasing since the turn of the 21st century: a study of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Sep 1;117(9):1419-27.