Incidence of perforated duodenal and gastric ulcer in Oxford.

The population incidence of perforated gastric and duodenal ulcer has been the subject of several studies (Illingworth, Scott, and Jamieson, 1944; Jamieson, 1955; Pulvertaft, 1959; Weir, 1960). Although some concerned 'peptic ulcer' incidence it is clear that gastric and duodenal ulcer perforation rates should be considered separately because the incidence of the two lesions differs (Jennings, 1940; Truelove and Reynell, 1963). In an area with reasonable medical care it is probable that all cases of perforated peptic ulcer will reach hospital, and the diagnosis be confirmed either radiologically, at operation, or at necropsy. Statistics from hospitals in different areas providing a complete population coverage are likely to be comparable. Earlier surveys have shown that the incidence of duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer has altered, and it has been suggested that epidemics of duodenal and gastric ulcers have just occurred in the British Isles (Susser and Stein, 1962). The purpose of this study was to discover whether the incidence in Oxford and the surrounding district reflected this change.