Risk Factors of Peptic Ulcer in 4943 Inpatients

BACKGROUNDOver the past few years, major changes have taken place in the treatment of gastroduodenal peptic ulcer. AIMTo evaluate risk factors associated with the incidence of peptic ulcer in inpatients. METHODSFrom 2001 to 2004, the number of prescriptions of H2-antagonists and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in each department of Verona University Hospital was monitored. Over the same period we prospectively recorded the number of upper endoscopies per department for inpatients with a diagnosis of peptic ulcer. RESULTSWe analyzed 4943 inpatients. A significantly decreasing trend in H2-antagonist prescriptions (r=−0,88; P