Duodenal ulcer disease in the hospitalized elderly patient.

The clinical presentation, hospital course, and outcome of duodenal ulcer disease in elderly patients were reviewed from the records of 168 patient admitted to a municipal hospital over a three-year period. All patients had an active duodenal ulcer confirmed by either endoscopy and/or surgery. Patients were separated into one of two groups: an elderly patients group (greater than or equal to 60) and a young group (less than 60). The demographics, past clinical history, symptomatology, physical examination features, admitting laboratory data, hospital course, and outcome of these groups were compared. The elderly group, while having the same duration of acid peptic disease, had significantly less complaints of epigastric pain just prior to admission (P = 0.01) and less alcohol usage (P = 0.03) when compared to the younger patient population. The older patient population on the other hand did have a more complicated course of acute disease characterized by a greater rebleeding (P = 0.004), larger transfusion requirement (P = 0.03), and a more prolonged stay of hospitalization with a higher mortality (P = 0.003).