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Monthly variation in frequency of active duodenal ulcer and maximal acid output
Author(s) -
HUI WAIMO,
LAM SHIUKUM
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1988.tb01401.x
Subject(s) - duodenal ulcer , medicine , pentagastrin , gastroenterology , basal (medicine) , gastric acid , zoology , stomach , biology , insulin
The frequency of duodenal ulcer has been reported to vary seasonally. It is not known whether gastric acid secretion of patients with this condition has similar seasonal variation. During 1981–85, 1864 patients (mean age 38.0 years, s.d. = 24.2, males comprising 67.1%) with newly diagnosed active duodenal ulcer were documented endoscopically. Of these 626 patients (mean age 38.5 years, s.d. = 15.0, males comprising 71.4%) agreed to have their basal acid output (BAO) and pentagastrin‐stimulated maximal acid output (MAO) measured. Time series analysis using the frequency domain approach identified that the monthly frequencies of duodenal ulcer over the 5‐year period occurred in cycles of 12 months. Multiple comparison using Duncan's procedure identified the occurrence of a significant peak in November and December. MAO varied significantly ( P < 0.04) with season with two peaks, one occurring in February and another in July. Month‐adjusted MAO was significantly higher ( P < 0.001) in male than in female patients. BAO showed no significant variation by month. It is concluded that active duodenal ulceration and MAO manifest significant variation by month, but their peaks do not coincide, indicating that acidity is unlikely to be a major factor responsible for the frequency of duodenal ulcer peaking in winter. These results also suggest that it is advisable to adjust for seasonal variation when MAO is compared among groups of duodenal ulcer patients.