Risk Factors of Peptic Ulcer-A Case Control Study

Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, esophagus and small intestine as a result of erosion from stomach acids. The identification of risk factors contributing to the formation of peptic ulcer can help in preventing the occurance of this condition among the public. The objective of the study was to identify the risk factors among patients with peptic ulcer. A total of 50 cases and 100 controls were selected using consecutive sampling technique. The cases were selected from both male and female patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and diagnosed as having peptic ulcer and controls were selected from male and female patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and not diagnosed as having peptic ulcer. Participants were between the age group of 30–70 years. A quantitative approach and Epidemiological design-case control study was used. The tool used for data collection was a structured interview schedule. Results showed that in the total study population 76% of cases and 68% of controls was in the age group of 50 and above years. Considering the age of onset, 50% of the cases developed peptic ulcer at the age interval of 55 and above years. In the study population 92% of cases had heartburn, 80% had abdominal pain and 72% had nausea. Considering aggrevation of pain, in 52.5% of cases pain aggrevated by food intake. Among the subjects, 30% of the cases had H.pylori infestation. The study analysed by Multiple dichotomous analysis concluded that the significant risk factors were ‘O’ blood group, non vegetarian food preference, habit of taking hot and spicy food, consumption of food at irregular intervals, coffee intake, regular intake of medications, especially NSAIDs and presence of stress, particularly psychological stress.