Seasonal variation in duodenal ulcer disease in the Upper Galilee

Active duodenal ulcer disease was diagnosed in 179 of 748 patients presenting with onset of symptoms of the peptic syndrome in the course of 3 years. The diagnosis was made on the basis of either endoscopy or X-ray. The highest average annual incidence was in kibbutzim and the lowest in moshavim (98.9 and 49.2 new cases/year/100,000, respectively). A peak in the diagnosis of new cases of active duodenal ulcer was demonstrated in November, December and January, compared with an equal distribution among other months. There was a diagnostic peak in the winter, and a seasonal decrease in the fall (56 +/- 4 vs 38 +/- 4, M +/- SE, respectively). These findings were statistically significant when proportions of total visits to the Gastroenterology Clinic were compared (Z = 1.976; p less than 0.05).