The association of peptic ulcer and schizophrenia: A population-based study

• The incidence of peptic ulcer was 1.27 times higher in schizophrenia patients.
• Patients are at higher risk taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• A slower rate of decline in the incidence of peptic ulcer among this group.

BackgroundThe association of schizophrenia with peptic ulcer is not conclusive. In the last 30 years, there has been little evaluation of peptic ulcer among schizophrenia patients.MethodsTo explore the relation of peptic ulcer and schizophrenia during this new phase, we used the data from Taiwan insurance claims, identified 1496 schizophrenia patients (ICD-9-CM: 295) and selected 5984 non-schizophrenia controls that were frequency-matched by sex, age, and index year with schizophrenia patients during the years 1998–2001. All subjects were free of peptic ulcer at baseline. We measured incidences of peptic ulcer (ICD-9-CM: 531–534) until the end of 2009.ResultsThe incidence of peptic ulcer was 1.27 times higher in schizophrenia patients than in the control group (12.1vs. 9.52 per 1000 person-years). Patients are at higher risk taking anti-depression, anxiolytic and hypnotics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. After controlling the confounding factors, schizophrenia patients had no significant increase incidence of peptic ulcer.ConclusionSchizophrenia patients have a slightly higher risk of peptic ulcer compared to the general population. This might be due to a higher rate of taking anti-depression, anxiolytic and hypnotics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and alcoholism among this group.