Occurrence of Oral Premalignant Lesions Among Tobacco Users in a Tribal Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This review aimed to comprehensively assess the association between tobacco use and oral health outcomes, specifically the presence of premalignant lesions (PMLs), through a synthesis of multiple assessments conducted in diverse populations. A systematic search of relevant literature was performed, and studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected using appropriate Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) words and Boolean operators. Data from these studies was pooled and analysed using Review Manager 5.4 (The Cochrane Collaboration, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen). The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies included. The pooled analysis of the five selected papers revealed a significant correlation between tobacco use and an increased prevalence of PMLs among tobacco users. Tobacco users had an odds ratio of 15.22 (95% CI: 10.01-23.15) as compared to non-user cohorts, significant at p 0.0001. This comprehensive synthesis of assessments underscores the detrimental impact of tobacco use on oral health, particularly in terms of potentially malignant lesions. The findings emphasise the urgency of targeted public health interventions to address tobacco consumption and promote oral health awareness, especially in populations with high tobacco consumption rates. Standardisation of methodologies and representation of diverse populations in future research would strengthen the evidence base and facilitate more effective strategies to improve oral health outcomes globally.