Death from undiagnosed peptic ulcer complications: a continuing challenge.

A 10-year study of all 9653 autopsies performed in the Plymouth Health District, UK from 1977 to 1986 revealed 154 patients who died from undiagnosed peptic ulcer complications. In all, 118 of these patients died suddenly at home and 36 died in hospital. Most patients were elderly although 47 were under 70 years and 2 were under 50 years of age. Anti-inflammatory drugs were being used by 81 of these patients, an incidence of 60 per cent where full drug histories were available. Women who died were much more likely to be using these drugs than men. This study emphasizes the hitherto unrecognized importance of death from undiagnosed peptic ulcer disease and further highlights the potential risk of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.