A questionnaire on health and daily life was mailed to patients who had undergone gastrectomy between 1976 and 1985. Replies came from 66 patients aged 70 and over at the time of operation (the elderly group), and 189 who were under 70 at the time of the questionnaire (the controls). Fifty-two percent of the elderly group were under medical treatment, whereas only 37% of the controls were (p less than 0.01). Preoperatively, 79% of the elderly group "could go out and do work", but at the time of the questionnaire only 56% (p less than 0.01) could. Forty percent of the elderly group who had worked before the operation retired after surgery. Employment of the males was: under 60 (98%), 60-64 (84%), 65-69 (58%), 70-74 (45%), 75-79 (57%), 80 and over (27%). These percentages were similar to the employment rates of male citizens of the same age groups in Tokyo.