Does Seasonality Affect Peptic Ulcer Perforation? A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Emergencies
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Perforated peptic ulcers are a leading cause of acute peritonitis globally, with prior research suggesting seasonal patterns.
• Modern medical advancements and climate change necessitate re-evaluation of seasonal variations in peptic ulcer perforation incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential seasonal variations in the incidence of peptic ulcer perforation.
• To analyze the association of risk factors like smoking and alcohol consumption with peptic ulcer perforation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 104 adult patients surgically treated for peptic ulcer perforation from January 2021 to April 2024.
• Data collected included patient demographics, risk factors (smoking, alcohol), perforation site (gastric/duodenal), and outcomes.
• Cases were categorized by month and season to assess temporal variations.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant seasonal or monthly variation in peptic ulcer perforation rates was observed (p > 0.05).
• Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with both gastric and duodenal perforations (p < 0.001).
• Smoking did not show a significant association with perforation site or overall incidence (p = 0.946).

Conclusions:

• Alcohol consumption appears to be a significant risk factor for peptic ulcer perforation.
• Smoking was not found to be a statistically significant risk factor in this study.
• Despite a slight predominance in spring, no significant seasonal variation in peptic ulcer perforation was detected.