title: Effect of Ramadan on peptic ulcer complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fasting during the month of Ramadan provides researchers with a good opportunity to study experimental hunger.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case histories of patients brought to Ankara Numune Hospital and hospitalized there because of peptic ulcer complaints during the period 1987-92 were retrospectively studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of peptic ulcer complications was in all the years of the study higher during Ramadan than during the periods before Ramadan (0.05 > p > 0.01) and after Ramadan (0.1 > p > 0.05). Female patients tended to develop more haemorrhage and perforations during Ramadan. In the peptic ulcer perforation group the average age of women was significantly higher during Ramadan, whereas it was significantly lower in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A type of partial hunger during Ramadan increased peptic ulcer complications.
authors.affiliation: Second and Third Internal Disease Clinics, Ankara Numune Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dönderici
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Temizhan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Küçükbaş
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eskioğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications*; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors