Assessment of pattern of tobacco habit and tobacco associated oral mucosal lesions in Kerala population- An epidemiological study.

Background: The use of tobacco significantly affects oral health and causes serious hazards like oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and Oral Cancer. This study analyses the prevalence of various oral mucosal lesions among tobacco users.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of subjects with various types of tobacco habit reported over a period of five years. The subjects were grouped as smokers, smokeless tobacco users and subjects with mixed habits. A working classification was formulated to include all the tobacco-induced lesions in the study subjects. Three categories of lesions in this classification were Oral Cancer, OPMD and Tobacco-induced oral lesions without malignant potential. The pattern of tobacco use, age and gender distribution, and the correlation between tobacco use in all the three habit patterns with tobacco-induced oral lesions were analyzed statistically and P value was determined using Chi square test.

Results: Tobacco smoking was found to be highly prevalent in this study, with all types of tobacco habits being more common among males. Tobacco-induced lesions without malignant potential were more prevalent than oral cancers and OPMD among the group of smokers whereas OPMD were highly prevalent among the smokeless tobacco users and subjects with mixed habit. Statistically significant correlation was found between smokeless tobacco usage and OPMD and other tobacco-induced lesions without malignant potential.

Conclusion: The results of this study can be utilised to educate patients with tobacco habits, with the aim of improving oral health and preventing the occurrence of OPMD.