Clinical epidemiological characteristics of oral lichen planus and risk factors for erosive subtype: a multi-center cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is one of the most common oral mucosal diseases, which is often persistent and has the risk of potential malignant transformation. To explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics of OLP in China and risk factors for erosive subtype of OLP. We collected information of patients who are diagnosed with OLP through clinical and histopathological examinations from 11 hospitals in different regions of China from 2015 to 2018. Then the descriptive statistical methods were used to explore the clinical epidemiological characteristics and logistic regression and subgroup analysis were utilized to explore the risk factors for erosive subtype of OLP. We found that the average age of patients was 49.2 ± 13.3 years, and 61.4% of the patients were women. The ratios of patients with reticular, atrophic and erosive lesions were 47.9%, 27.8% and 24.2%, respectively. Analysis of risk factors for erosive subtype identified the following variables: age, course of disease of 12 months or more, II°-III° dental calculus, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as regions of habitation. Subgroup analysis showed significant differences in risk factors for erosive subtypes in OLP patients with and without bad habits. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the clinical epidemiological characteristics of OLP patients in China and reflected a relationship between OLP erosive subtypes and epidemiological factors, providing a reference for prevention and treatment of erosive OLP.