[Treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers in elderly persons].

ABSTRACT

Treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is not different between young and elderly patients. Eradication therapy for H. pylori infection should be made for elderly patients with H. pylori-gastric ulcers, because the incidence of adverse events is not higher than in young patients. NSAIDs are often given elderly persons, and aging is a risk factor of the development of NSAID-related ulcer. If elderly patients have some risk factors (high dose NSAID therapy, past history of uncomplicated ulcers or concurrent use of aspirin, corticosteroids or anticoagulants), prophylactic therapy for NSAID-ulcers should be made.