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Use of proton-pump inhibitors and better treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection have the potential to affect the population-wide incidence of peptic-ulcer bleeding. However, the epidemiological picture varies from country to country.
Investigators tracked hospital admissions for peptic-ulcer bleeding in Malmö, Sweden, from 1987 through 2004, divided into three 6-year spans. Among the city's population of approximately 270,000 people, bleeding peptic ulcers were confirmed in 1610 hospitalized patients during the 18-year period.
From the first to the third 6-year span, the incidence of bleeding duodenal ulcers decreased by 64% in men and by 37% in women; for gastric ulcers, the relative declines were 54% in men and 35% in women. The absolut…