In order to examine the annual changes of peptic ulcer disease in Hiroshima District, a total number of 2548 patients with peptic ulcer were studied during the period from 1974 to 1983.
From the results obtained, gastric ulcer (GU) was more common than duodenal ulcer (DU), and gastric ulcer combined with duodenal ulcer (GDU) was rare. The male to female ratio was 2.7 for GU, 5.0 for GDU and 3.4 for DU. There was a marked male preponderance in GU, GDU and DU. The male to female ratio of GU was surprisingly constant in all decades, while that of DU varied considerably between the different age groups, being on the highest 6.6 in the second decade.
There was no marked annual change in GU to DU ratio during the period from 1977 to 1983. On the other hand, it was shown that the male preponderance pattern had changed gradually in both GU and DU.