The Prevalence and Correlates of Fissured Tongue Among Outpatients in A Regional Area of Afghanistan

Abstract

Background: Fissured tongue is a common manifestation of the tongue, marked by the presence of multiple prominent grooves or fissures on the dorsal surface of the tongue. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on the prevalence and factors associated with fissured tongue among patients attending an outpatient clinic living in regional areas of Afghanistan. Aims: The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with fissured tongue among adult outpatients in Afghanistan in regional areas of Afghanistan. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted among outpatient populations in Andkhoy, Afghanistan, between September 2019 and December 2019. Socio-economic status, smoking, nass use (smokeless tobacco use) and medical data were also assessed. We used the logistic regression models to identify factors associated with fissured tongue. Results: The studied population consisted of 1182 participants, of whom 573 (48.5%) were male and 609 (51.5%) female. The prevalence of fissured tongue was 27.2% (95% CI: 24.7-29.9%) with male having significantly higher prevalence than female (47.5%, 95% CI: 43.3-51.6% versus 8.2%, 95% CI: 6.2-10.7%, p<0.001). Male participants (OR=7.1, 95% CI: 4.8-10.3), Diabetes mellitus (OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.3) and smokeless tobacco use (OR, 12.0 95% CI: 8.1-17.6) were the only variables independently associated with fissured tongue. Conclusions: This study suggested that there was a high rate of fissured tongue among an outpatient clinic in Andkhoy, Afghanistan. Male gender, diabetes mellitus, and nass consumption were associated with fissured tongue. Therefore, these factors might usefully be targeted in local health promotion, prevention and early intervention programs.

Oral Manifestations: A Reliable Indicator for Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Patients

“…Fissures develop on the dorsal surface of the tongue due to inadequate glycemic control, immunological changes, alteration in microcirculation, and salivary flow. 34,37 Manifestations like fissure tongue were prevalent in patients with higher HbA1c levels, accounting to 91% of diabetic patients. The findings of our study are consistent with the results of the study done on the Japanese population by Hsu et al 20 Furthermore, in the current study, there was a greater prevalence of both yellow (57.6%) and pale yellow (29.4%) tongue coatings in patients having high levels of HbA1c.…”