[The detectability and risk factors of peptic ulcer in a rural population (an epidemiological screening trial)]

The authors have conducted an epidemiological survey in rural population of Estonia. Of 3088 examinees 2304 answered questions of a specially designed questionnaire (72 questions on risk factors, disease history, family diseases, hereditary load, complaints, etc.). 568 respondents of 556 females and 298 males with gastroenterological complaints agreed to be examined endoscopically. Ulcer was found in 71 (8.3% of those with complaints) examinees. In 1/3 of them the diagnosis was primary. Proportion of males to females made up 2.4:1.0. Duodenal ulcer was registered 2.2 times more frequently than gastric ulcer. Risk to develop ulcer became greater with age. Compared to controls without endoscopic evidence of ulcer, males with ulcer smoked, had hereditary predisposition and previous nervous stress significantly more frequently.