[Complications of peptic ulcer disease in the elderly]

Peptic disease is even more described in the elderly patients. Is it different from the young people peptic disease? Is it a specific syndrome? These questions are debated by the authors from their experience about in the old age surgery. In 1997, out of 569 oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopies positive for peptic disease, about 2/5 of the patients were older than 65-year with a high percentage of hypersecretive patients. Also the incidence of complications is similar in the aged and young patients, but their course is much more serious in the elderly. NSAID therapy was not always demonstrated as a determining factor of complications in the elderly. The ulcer perforation is the most serious complication; in the over-70 year aged persons a very severe course is often demonstrated. In conclusion in the elderly a specific diagnostic and therapeutic care is recommended to avoid the high incidence of deadly complications.