The aim of this study was to determine whether the improvements in the treatment of peptic ulcers are associated with decreasing age- and sex-specific hospitalization and death rates for peptic ulcers in Denmark. The study was based on all discharges as registered in the National Hospital Discharge Registry and all death certificates as registered in the Danish National Board of Health from 1981 through 1993. The age- and sex-specific and age-adjusted hospitalization and death rates were estimated. In women, the age-adjusted hospitalization increased for all types of peptic ulcers. In both sexes the age-adjusted peptic ulcer mortality increased mainly due to complicated duodenal ulcers. The analysis of the age-specific hospitalization and mortality for peptic ulcer complications showed that the increasing trends mainly occurred among the elderly. The improved medical treatment of peptic ulcers has not been associated with decreasing hospitalization or death from complicated peptic ulcers in Denmark.