The incidence and result of radiological examination of the stomach using a barium meal.

In 1964 1.6-1.8% of the population in Copenhagen County - with a population of approx. 500,000 - were referred for a radiological examination of the stomach. The incidence, the same in both sexes, increased with increasing age, being 1% at the age of 20 years and 3-4% at the age of 70 years. The probability of demonstrating an ulcer was twice as high in men (32%) as in women (17%), reaching a total of approx. 25%. The incidence of a "negative" result was thus highest in women. In this "non-ulcer" group the sex ratio male:female was correspondingly 0.6:1. Patients with a new ulcer constituted over a certain age a surprisingly constant fraction of those examined -- in men approx. 15%, in women approx. 9%. The total incidence of new and relapse cases of peptic ulcer was 2.6-3.6 per 1000 inhabitants, with a ratio male:female of 1.6:1. The age incidence was constant for women after the age of 50 years and maximal for men in the 70-year age group. The probability of demonstrating changes that within an observational period of 6 years were found to be caused by cancer of the stomach was 1%, corresponding with an incidence of 0.2 per 1000 inhabitants.