RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a multifactorial disorder involving the gastroduodenal mucosa. A prospective study regarding the risk factors associated with PUD was performed in the department of medicine and gastroenterology at PGM I, LRH, Peshawar. A total number of 100 patients, 76 males and 24 females with endoscopically proven peptic ulcer were included in the study. Eighty percent had duodenal ulcer (DU) and 20% had gastric ulcer (GU) with a DU:GU ratio of 4:1. The use of tobacco as smoking and / or ʹNaswarʹ remained the major risk factor 56% overall with 33% as smoking. Intake of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was the second major risk factor in 40% of PUD patients, particularly associated with GU (50%). Patients presented with more than one symptoms, the most common being pain in epigastrium and dyspepsia. It is concluded that use of tobacco and NSAIDs are the two major risk factors associated with PUD.