Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is due mostly to the widespread use of low-dose aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammator drugs. It occurs mostly in older patients and those with comorbidities. Pain awakening the patient from sleep between 12 and 3 a.m. affects two-thirds of duodenal ulcer patients and one-third of gastric ulcer patients. Older adults (> 80 years old) with PUD often do not present with abdominal pain; instead, epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting are among their most common presenting symptoms.