LB5
Why India needs stringent anti-tobacco policies: a tertiary hospital profile of habit related oral lesions from state of Kerala
KP Sharafuddeen, Thomas Valsa
Dental College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Introduction
On a global scale, the use and abuse of tobacco products is the major cause of oral cancer. The State of Kerala has a high prevalence of chewing and smoking tobacco, which contributes to a variety of oral mucosal lesions and conditions.
Objective
A cross sectional study of habit related oral diseases in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Method
Consecutive patients (n=17460) attending the OPD were screened over 6 months for tobacco habits and associated oral mucosal lesions. Habit and Demographic variables were cross-tabulated against clinical diagnosis of oral lesion.
Results
Smoking was the most commonly practiced habit (1.02%) either alone or in combination with alcohol (0.36%) and commercial areca nut (0.08%). Betel chewing (0.99%) was the predominant single habit reported. In patients with habits (n=292), the prevalence of oral lesions was 73.29% (95% CI = 68.21-78.36). Regarding distribution of oral lesions (n=305), Oral cancer was predominant (31.8%) followed by Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) (29.8%). Leukoplakia was detected in 18.6% and Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) in 14.7%. Prevalence of habit was more than 70%; Carcinoma and OSF were associated with betel chewing habit and Leukoplakia with smoking habit; But 90% of OLP were without any habits (p=0.005).
Conclusion
Oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders are most common over 40 years of age and with more than 10 year’s history of tobacco habits. This looming health scenario emphasizes the call for strict adherence to anti-tobacco policies, targeting the younger population.
