Risk Factors for Developing Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is predicted to affect between 0.1 and 0.3 percent of the population each year. PUD develops at a rate of roughly 1% per year in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected persons, which is 6 to 10 times higher than in uninfected people. The prevalence of PUD increases with age in both duodenal and stomach ulcers. Two factors contribute to peptic ulcer disease: H. pylori infection and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs have also been related to an increased risk of complications from peptic ulcer disease, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, and gastric outlet obstruction.