Compare the characteristics of gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers in terms of location, age group affected, pain timing, and malignancy risk.

Gastric ulcers occur in the antrum area of the stomach, typically in middle-aged people. Duodenal ulcers occur in the upper duodenal bulb, usually in middle-aged men, and are four times more common than gastric ulcers in those over 40. Gastric ulcer pain occurs especially after food and is relieved by lying flat or antacids; duodenal ulcer pain is worse at night. Around 5% of gastric ulcers are malignant, whereas duodenal ulcers are rarely malignant.

Based on the peptic ulcer description, gastric ulcers are located in the antrum of the stomach and affect people in middle age; they carry a higher mortality rate than duodenal ulcers. Duodenal ulcers are located in the upper duodenal bulb and are described as occurring in middle-aged men, being four times more common than gastric ulcers in patients over 40 years of age. In terms of pain timing, gastric ulcer pain is epigastric and occurs especially after food, with relief from lying flat or taking antacids. Duodenal ulcer pain is also epigastric but is worse at night. Malignancy risk differs clearly: about 5% of gastric ulcers are malignant, while duodenal ulcers are rarely malignant, although they may perforate the stomach wall and require urgent treatment.