Peptic Ulcer in Massachusetts Physicians

Abstract

As estimated by a mail questionnaire, to which 8056 (92 per cent) of 8716 eligible physicians responded, 11 per cent of male Massachusetts physicians above the age of 45 reported have had a duodenal ulcer. The estimated annual incidence in males was between 2.5 and 4.0 per 1000 in all age groups above the age of 25. This rate appears to have decreased over the past 10 to 20 years among physicians born after 1921. About 1.5 per cent of male physicians over 45 have had a gastric ulcer. The estimated annual incidence of gastric ulcer increased with age to a peak of 1.0 to 1.5 per 1000 over 65. These results give no indication that peptic ulcer is unduly frequent among male physicians, although the rate for female physicians may be higher than that for the general female population. No association of risk of ulcer with professional specialty or place of residence is apparent.