CHANGES IN THE HARMFUL HABITS OF RISK FOR ORAL CANCER OVER 27 YEARS IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ, BRAZIL

Abstract

Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking are increasing the risk of oral cancer. The aim of the study is to report the experience of 27 years of voluntary actions regarding the prevention of oral cancer in Parana, Brazil. From 1989 to 2015, voluntary health actions were carried out aimed at the prevention of oral cancer. Volunteers over 30 years old answered a questionnaire with personal data and harmful habits, such as smoking and alcoholism, as well as a physical examination. Results: A total of 25,177 patients were examined, of which 21.5% had oral lesions, such as traumatic and inflammatory lesions and leukoplakia, with characteristics of malignancy, papilloma, and erythroplasia. Regarding the harmful habits, from 1989 to 1998, 25% of the participants were smokers and 14.4% drinkers of alcohol. In the subsequent 10 years, there was a drop in habits to 18.4% and 14.3%, respectively. However, frequencies increased between 2009 and 2015, reaching to 24.3% of smokers and 18.4% of alcohol drinkers. The data show that the harmful habits of the population studied varied over the years, while the percentage of smokers and users of alcohol in Parana is still high, and that more preventive campaigns should be made to raise awareness of the population regarding its carcinogenic effects.