Epidemiological aspects of peptic ulcer disease on the Faroe Islands. An interim report.

A prospective epidemiological study was carried out from 1981 to 1983 to determine the incidence of peptic ulcer on the Faroe Islands. The annual incidence of first-time-diagnosed peptic ulcer was on the average 3.3 per 1000 inhabitants aged 15 years and older. No significant changes in incidence were observed during the 3-year period. The male to female ratio of peptic ulcer was 2.1:1. The annual incidences of duodenal and gastric ulcer were 2.3 per 1000 and 1.0 per 1000, respectively. The duodenal to gastric ulcer ratio was approximately 2:1 in both male and female patients. The incidence of peptic ulcer observed in the Faroe Islands is very high compared with other countries. The incidence of duodenal ulcer is of the same high magnitude as observed in Scotland, whereas the incidence of gastric ulcer is twice as high as generally found in Western countries and in accordance with the rates found in Arctic areas.