Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in dental patients with tobacco smoking, chewing, and mixed habits: A cross-sectional study in South India

Abstract

Background:A variety of oral mucosal lesions and conditions are associated with the habit of smoking and chewing tobacco, and many of these carry a potential risk for the development of cancer. There have been no studies that report the prevalence of habits and associated oral changes in the population in Dharwad region, of Karnataka, south India.Materials and Methods:A hospital–based, cross-sectional study was carried out at SDM Dental College (Dharwad, Karnataka). A total of 2400 subjects (1200 subjects with and 1200 subjects without habits) attending the dental hospital were interviewed and examined by trained professionals to assess any oral mucosal changes.Results:Oral mucosal lesions were found in 322 (26.8%) subjects who had tobacco smoking and chewing habits as compared to 34 (2.8%) subjects without those habits. Oral leukoplakia (8.2%) and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) (7.1%) were the prevalent oral mucosal lesions found in subjects who had those habits, while the other lesions (1.7%) namely; oral candidiasis, median rhomboid glossitis, recurrent apthous ulcer, frictional keratosis, and oral lichen planus (0.9%) were frequently reported among individuals without those habits. The odds of developing oral lesions in subjects with tobacco habits was nearly 11.92 times that of abstainers (odds ratio, OR = 11.92, 95% confidence intervals, CI = 10.61-14.59%).Conclusion:The study showed that the risk of the development of oral lesions associated with tobacco smoking, chewing, or both is quite high. Males who had one or more of these habits showed more frequent oral changes than females. The study reinforces the association of OSF with gutkha and areca nut chewing, and leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and oral cancer with tobacco smoking, chewing, or mixed habits.

Pattern and prevalence of tobacco use and associated oral mucosal lesions: a hospital based cross sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in central India

“…17 The overall prevalence of leukoplakia (3.31%) was similar to the study by Chandra P and Govindraju P who reported leukoplakia in 3.5% of patients, 16 but low in comparison to the study by Patil et al which reported a prevalence of 8.2% in patients with tobacco smoking, chewing, and mixed habits. 15 The prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis in the present study was 5.43% which was less in comparison to 7.1% reported by Patil et al 15 but comparatively higher than observed by Gupta et al (3.2%) among the general population of Bhavnagar, Gujarat. 18 This was a small study with less sample size; large-scale epidemiological studies should be designed for better understanding of tobacco use and its associated factors.…”

“…The prevalence of oral lesions in tobacco users in our study was 43.12% which was in accordance to 49.52% reported by Kasat et al 12 and more than 26.8% reported by Patil et al 15 but less than 73.8% reported by Chandra P and Govindraju P. 16 Tobacco induced hyperkeratosis was recorded in 31.83% users which was less than that reported by Kawatra et al (67.58%) in their study. 17 The overall prevalence of leukoplakia (3.31%) was similar to the study by Chandra P and Govindraju P who reported leukoplakia in 3.5% of patients, 16 but low in comparison to the study by Patil et al which reported a prevalence of 8.2% in patients with tobacco smoking, chewing, and mixed habits.…”

Oral Mucosal Lesions and Adverse Habits Among Hospitalized Tuberculosis Patients of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

“…When compared according to adverse habits, the participants in the present study who were addicted to combination of habits showed a highest prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (96.4%), which is similar to the study conducted by Patil P et al (2013) among Indian population (20). Similarly, Campisi and Margiotta (12) reported one of the highest incidences of leukoplakia in the population who drank alcohol along with the habit of smoking.…”

Demographic Risk Factors, Affected Anatomical Sites and Clinicopathological Profile for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a North Indian Population

“…Daily frequency and duration of alcohol and tobacco consumption have been observed in relationship to oral cancer development (Krishna Rao et al, 2013). In the study, prevalence of risk habit in OSCC was higher (94.3%) in compare to other previous studies (Aruna et al, 2011;Patil et al, 2013). The high percentage of patients with risk habits is probably related to the early initiation of tobacco use especially in chewing form due to its easy availability, low cost and socio-cultural acceptance.…”