Trends in peptic ulcer related diseases from 1972 to 1980. Hospital activity analysis data and general practice cimetidine prescribing levels.

Between 1972 and 1980 Hospital Activity Analysis from 5 Northern Ireland Hospitals demonstrated a gradual increase in the number of patients discharged for all diagnoses whilst there was a decline in discharges for peptic ulcer related disease, (duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, gastrojejunal ulcer, peptic ulcer site unspecified and hiatal hernia). The mean number of peptic ulcer related disease discharges per year for 1977-80, when cimetidine became generally available, was 10% lower than that of 1972-76, mainly due to a decline in male patient numbers. The mean annual number of male patients with a duodenal ulcer fell significantly by 18% (U = 1, p less than or equal to 0.025) during the 1977-80 period, whereas female discharges decreased by only 4%. Between 1972-76 and 1977-80 the mean annual number of duodenal ulcer perforations decreased significantly by 21% in males but only by 4% in females. Surgery for peptic ulcer related disease was 47% less in 1977-80 period, with significant decreases in duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and hiatal hernia procedures. From 1977 to 1980 there was considerable growth in Northern Ireland general practice cimetidine prescribing with 300,000 prescriptions being dispensed over the period. Apart from male duodenal ulcer cases, hospitalisation for peptic ulcer related diseases did not decrease substantially after the introduction of cimetidine but duodenal ulcer perforation and conditions warranting surgery did decline.