Elderly patients with perforated peptic ulcers: factors affecting morbidity and mortality

Morbidity and mortality of perforated peptic ulcers (PPUs) have been higher when they occur in elderly patients. Seventy-three PPUs were reviewed to determine the factors accounting for the poor outcome in patients at or above 65 years old (elderly PPU). The presentation of 44 young PPUs was compared to 29 elderly PPUs. Delay in diagnosis, associated comorbid factors and shock on admission were found to be the primary factors. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of duration of pain before the diagnosis was made (8.2 h vs 16.4 h) (P < 0.05). The delay in diagnosis was partly due to the vague presentation, as 41.4% (11 patients) of the elderly presented with abdominal pain not localized in the epigastrium. In addition, 55.2% (16) of elderly patients did not have a history of prior ulcer disease and one-third (nine) did not have air under the diaphragm on chest X-ray. Significant comorbid factors were present in 65.5% compared to 15.9% in the younger group (P < 0.001). Shock on admission was present in six (20.7%) elderly patients, but only in one (2.3%) young patient (P < 0.05). As a result, morbidity was 89.6% in the elderly group compared to 27.2% in the younger patients (P < 0.001). Wound complications accounted for a significant proportion of the morbidity. Mortality was 17.2% and 2.3% respectively (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)