Association of socioeconomic risk factor with patients delay in presentation of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Delayed reporting is a common problem in patients with low socioeconomic group and may be responsible for advanced stage disease. Aim: To evaluate association of socioeconomic risk factor with patients delay in presentation of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). Material and Methods: Thorough case history of 120 histopathologically confirmed OSCC patients was taken and were categorized according to TNM staging. Their SES was assessed by Aggarwal OP et al (2005) scale. Patients delay in presentation was calculated by measuring the time between the onset of the first symptoms of OSCC and the first consultation with primary health care provider. Association of socioeconomic status (SES) with patients delay in presentation was sought. Observations and Results: Out of 120 OSCC patients, there were 04 (3.33%) patients from stage II, 31(25.83%) from stage III, 85 (70.83%) from stage IV. Thirteen (10.80%) patients reported within 3 months of onset of the first symptoms, 14 (11.66%) patients reported upto 3 months, 72 (60.00%) reported between 3-6 months, 20 (16.66%) between 6-9 months and 14 (11.66%) between 9-12 months. Association of clinical staging and patient delay was sought by subjecting to chi square test, and the x2 value was 43.80, P = 0.0001, suggesting statistically significant difference. An association of clinical staging, SES and period of patient's first presentation was also carried out and data subjected to chi square test which was statistically significant in all the subgroups of SES. Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that there is significant association of socioeconomic status with patients delay in presentation of oral squamous cell carcinoma