Increased risk of sialolithiasis in smokers: A nested case-control study using a national health screening

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships among tobacco smoking, drinking alcohol, obesity and sialolithiasis in a Korean population.MethodsThe Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort, which includes patients ≥ 40 years old, was assessed from 2002 to 2013. 947 sialolithiasis participants were matched with 3,788 control subjects at a ratio of 1:4 with respect to age group, sex, income group, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We analyzed participants’ previous histories of smoking (current or past smokers compared to nonsmokers) and alcohol consumption (≥ 1 time per week compared to < 1 time per week) in the sialolithiasis and control groups. Obesity was measured using body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), which was categorized as < 18.5 (underweight), ≥ 18.5 and < 23 (normal), ≥ 23 and < 25 (overweight), ≥ 25 and < 30 (obese I), and ≥ 30 (obese II). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe rate of smoking was higher in the sialolithiasis group (32.4% [307/947]) than in the control group (29.1% [1,103/3,788], P = 0.047). The adjusted OR of smoking for sialolithiasis was 1.31 (95% CI = 1.08-1.59, P = 0.006). Alcohol consumption and obesity were not statistically significantly related to sialolithiasis.ConclusionThe odds of smoking were increased in sialolithiasis patients compared with the control subjects in ≥ 40 years old population.