Seasonal Occurrence of Abdominal Pain and Endoscopic Findings in Patients with Gastric and Duodenal Ulcer Disease

Abstract

Fifty patients with peptic ulcer disease were followed up for 1 to 5 years. Panendoscopy was repeated on the average of 5.6 times a year, also in patients who were actually well. The pattern of changes during one calendar year was a substantial comparative unit. The incidence and intensity of pain, erosions, and ulcers were registered in yearly charts, and the results were calculated per month from 100 yearly cycles. Pain appeared to be the most frequent symptom, being reported in 50% to 100% of visits in particular months. Its decrease in springtime and in August was significant at the level of p < 0.05, whereas the increase in early autumn was more significant, with p < 0.01, as was also the next decrease in December. Although pain appeared more often than ulcer niches, and although 4% of patients never felt pain, the only positive correlation found (p < 0.05) was that between incidence of pain and of ulcer. Erosions occurring in 10% to 30% seemed to be the most constant feature in these cases, whereas the appearance of ulcers ranged from 15% to 60%. The lower ulcer incidence in August and in December was highly significant (in both, p < 0.001).

Key words:

• Biological clocks
• duodenal ulcer
• endoscopy
• gastric ulcer
• pain, abdominal
• peptic ulcer