BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ulcer surgery and the epidemiology of peptic ulcer perforation have changed considerably in recent decades. PATIENTS/ METHODS: Within two prospective studies, 170 perforated peptic ulcer patients from 12 Eastern European centres and 37 patients from 11 German centres were analysed. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 43 years in the Copernicus study and 49 years in the MEDWIS study (P=n.s.), being higher for MEDWIS female patients (73 vs 53 years, respectively; P<0.05). Female patients made up 17% (29/170) of the Copernicus study and 35% (40/170) of the MEDWIS study (P<0.05). Twenty-three per cent (40/170) of patients in the Copernicus study and 54% (20/37) in the MEDWIS study had gastric ulcer perforation (P<0.001). The proportion of definitive operations was higher in Eastern Europe (41.1%; 67/163) than it was in Germany (16.1%; 5/31) (P<0.01). German patients experienced more general complications than Eastern European patients (35 vs 12%, respectively; P<0.01) and a higher mortality [13% (5/37) vs 2% (4/170), respectively; P<0.01]. Delayed admission > or =12 h and age > or =60 years remained predictors for complications in multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The proportion of both women and gastric ulcers was higher among German patients, while Eastern European patients underwent more definitive operations. German patients experienced more general complications and a higher mortality. Complications were related to high age and delayed admission.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ulcer surgery and the epidemiology of peptic ulcer perforation have changed considerably in recent decades. PATIENTS/ METHODS: Within two prospective studies, 170 perforated peptic ulcerpatients from 12 Eastern European centres and 37 patients from 11 German centres were analysed. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 43 years in the Copernicus study and 49 years in the MEDWIS study (P=n.s.), being higher for MEDWIS female patients (73 vs 53 years, respectively; P<0.05). Female patients made up 17% (29/170) of the Copernicus study and 35% (40/170) of the MEDWIS study (P<0.05). Twenty-three per cent (40/170) of patients in the Copernicus study and 54% (20/37) in the MEDWIS study had gastric ulcer perforation (P<0.001). The proportion of definitive operations was higher in Eastern Europe (41.1%; 67/163) than it was in Germany (16.1%; 5/31) (P<0.01). German patients experienced more general complications than Eastern European patients (35 vs 12%, respectively; P<0.01) and a higher mortality [13% (5/37) vs 2% (4/170), respectively; P<0.01]. Delayed admission > or =12 h and age > or =60 years remained predictors for complications in multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The proportion of both women and gastric ulcers was higher among German patients, while Eastern European patients underwent more definitive operations. German patients experienced more general complications and a higher mortality. Complications were related to high age and delayed admission.