Time trends in peptic ulcer, erosive reflux oesophagitis, gastric and oesophageal cancers in a multiracial Asian population

Summary Background Dramatic changes in the prevalence and pattern of gastrointestinal disease has taken place in Asia in recent years. Aim To compare the prevalence of duodenal (DU) and gastric ulcers (GU), erosive oesophagitis (EO), gastric cancer (GCA) and oesophageal cancer (OCA) and Helicobacter pylori infection over a 10‐year interval of time in a multiracial South‐East Asian population. Methods Endoscopy records of first time gastroscopy in the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were reviewed for 1989/1990 and 1999/2000. Results In the period of 1989–1990, 3252 records and in 1999–2000, 4615 records were analysed. Both DU (21.1–9.5%) and GU (11.9–9.4%) had decreased significantly (P