Hospital

Risk Factors for Peptic Ulcer Disease

A risk factor is something that raises the chances of getting a health problem. A person can get peptic ulcer disease with or without the ones listed below. The chances of getting it are greater in people who have many risk factors. Things that can raise the risk are:

H. pylori infection is the most common risk factor for getting peptic ulcer disease.

Medicines

Medicines that may raise the risk are:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
  • Oral corticosteroids
  • Biphosphonates
  • Potassium chloride
  • Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer

Health Problems

Health problems that may raise the risk are:

Other Factors

Other factors that may raise the risk are:

  • Smoking
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Having type O blood
  • Having other family members with peptic ulcer disease
PreviousNext

References:

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Dyspepsia and gastro-esophageal reflux disease: Investigation and management of dyspepsia, symptoms suggestive of gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or both. NICE 2014 Sep:CG184.
Peptic ulcer disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peptic-ulcer-disease. Updated April 2, 2018. Accessed February 3, 2020.
Peptic ulcer disease. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated January 2020. Accessed February 3, 2020.
Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/peptic-ulcers-stomach-ulcers/all-content. Updated November 2014. Accessed February 3, 2020.
Last reviewed November 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD