A study of peptic ulcer and associated risk factors among patients undergoing upper GIT endoscopy in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq

Background: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a multifactorial condition whose global prevalence has reduced over the past years, but it remains a significant health burden. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PUD and identify the associated risk factors among patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) endoscopy in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 11 and December 17, 2022, in Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq. A total of 218 patients (116 males and 102 females), aged 18 to 81, who underwent upper GIT endoscopy at Azadi Teaching Hospital were interviewed. The presence of H. pylori was determined using a rapid urease test on biopsy samples. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test were employed for data analysis, with P < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of peptic ulcers among the participants was 13.8% (30 cases). Duodenal ulcers accounted for 12.4% (27 cases), significantly outweighing gastric ulcers at 1.4% (3 cases). The primary patient complaint was abdominal pain (39%). A statistically significant association was observed between PUD and both gender (P=0.001) and H. pylori infection (P=0.001). NSAID use, spicy food, smoking, family history, and other dietary factors did not show a statistically significant association.
Conclusions: Approximately 13.8% of individuals undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Duhok region were found to exhibit peptic ulcers. Sex and H. pylori infection emerged as the statistically identified risk factors for PUD in this patient group. Further research is essential to comprehensively investigate the complex impact of diverse factors on the development of PUD in this region.