OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role played by some of the
traditional risk factors on the prevalence of duodenal ulcer
disease in Jordan, where the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori
is high.
METHODS: This study was carried out in the Endoscopy unit
at the Health Center, Jordan University of Science and
Technology, Irbid, Jordan, during the period January 1998
through to july 1999. The patients' group consisted of 290
subjects with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers and 161
subjects who were endoscoped for various indications and found
to have no ulcers were considered as controls. Validated
questionnaires were filled out before the procedure, containing
data related to age, sex, area of residence, family history of
ulcer, blood grouping, cigarette smoking, coffee and tea
ingestion, and regularity of meals.
RESULTS: The following factors were associated with
increased ulcer prevalence, male gender, family history of
ulcer, blood group O, skipping breakfast or more than one meal,
coffee ingestion and cigarette smoking.
CONCLUSION: Many factors are important in the
predisposition for ulcer disease in subjects with Helicobacter
pylori. Modification of these factors would be essential to
decrease the prevalence of ulcer disease and will result in
large economic and medical savings.
Institution
Department of Internal Medicine, Jordan University of Science
and Technology, PO Box 481, Irbid 21110, Jordan.
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