OBJECTIVES There have been no reported data on the medical care cost of idiopathic peptic ulcer disease (PUD) compared with H. pylori (+) and/or NSAID (+) cases although H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers are increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the direct medical care costs of PUD based on whether it was H. pylori infection/from NSAIDs or idiopathic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and seventy three patients with PUD comprising H. pylori and/or NSAID use-associated PUD (n = 145) and idiopathic PUD (n = 28) were prospectively enrolled in this study. The direct medical care costs were analyzed retrospectively for the patients with PUD during a one-year follow-up period.

RESULTS The recurrence rate within one year was significantly higher in idiopathic PUD than H. pylori and/or NSAID-associated PUD (p = 0.002). Direct medical care costs of idiopathic PUD ($2483.8) were higher than in patients with H. pylori and/or NSAID-associated PUD ($1751.8) resulting from longer duration of medication and higher proportion of endoscopic hemostasis and hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS More clinical research is needed to improve outcome and reduce recurrence rate and medical care costs of idiopathic PUD.