title: Frequency of peptic ulcer disease during and after Ramadan in a United Arab Emirates hospital.
abstract: We aimed to study the effect of Ramadan fasting on the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease and its complications in patients presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department at Al-Ain hospital, United Arab Emirates (UAE). We retrospectively reviewed patient records over the 10-year period, 1992 to 2002. Of 470 patients treated for peptic ulcer disease, 215 were seen during Ramadan and 255 in the month after Ramadan. The frequency of peptic ulcer disease was higher after Ramadan than during Ramadan but this was not statistically significant. Peptic ulcer disease occurred more frequently in the age group 30-49 years. Peptic ulcer perforation occurred more frequently after Ramadan but the difference was not significant. Regression analysis identified the following variables as predictors of peptic ulcer disease: anorexia, pain, hypertension, smoking, epigastric pain, diabetes and family history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE University Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. abener@hmc.org.qa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bener
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Derbala
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Kaabi
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Taryam
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Ameri
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Muraikhi
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Al-Mansoor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014479:United Arab Emirates