A revisit at 16 years for individuals from periurban New Delhi for tobacco use and associated oral lesions

• Published in: Tobacco induced diseases 2019-10, Vol.17 (1)
• Main Authors: Grover, Shekhar, Mehrotra, Ravi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Cancer; cancer screening; Demographics; Demography; Lesions; Mucosa; Oral cancer; oral lesions; oral potentially malignant disorders; oral visual examination; Population studies; Tobacco; tobacco cessation
• ISSN: 1617-9625; 1617-9625
• DOI: 10.18332/tid/111547

Objective: India has a high incidence of oral cancer due to multifarious tobacco use. The objective of this study was to assess the status of tobacco-related oral lesions over 16 years, in a screen-detected population. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved home visits of 2000 Delhi residents, previously screened for oral potentially malignant disorders/oral cancer and counselled for tobacco cessation. Their basic demographics and tobacco/alcohol history were noted followed by oral visual examination for any related mucosal abnormalities. The data thus obtained were statistically analysed. Results: Two hundred and sixty-five individuals (13.2%) could be traced after 16 years. The status of oral lesions varied across the participants, mainly in terms of their location, type, number, and/or presence/absence; no oral malignancies were noted. Most individuals had either a decreased use (34%, p < 0.001) or had quit tobacco (25.7%, p < 0.001); 8.3% individuals from the former and 5.7% from the latter group showed complete lesion(s) regression. The overall change in the tobacco use and oral lesions showed a highly significant positive association (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A direct relationship exists between tobacco use and oral lesions. Repeated, tobacco cessation counselling provided by health-care professionals is effective. Oral screening of high-risk individuals, along with tobacco cessation, is thus essential.