OP144: Prevalence of oral cancer, potentially malignant lesions and oral habits among patients visiting dental school, Sana’a University

Abstract

Qat chewing, Smoking, smokeless tobacco (locally known as shammah) and waterpipe smoking (locally known as madaah) are common habits in Yemen. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral cancerous and precancerous lesions, and to investigate the prevalence of oral risk habits among Yemeni adults attending outpatient dental clinic, Sana‘a university. This cross sectional study involved 304 adults aged 14–87 years, who attended outpatient clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Sana‘a university, Yemen. The participants were interviewed individually for socioeconomic status, behavioral information, oral risk habits, oral hygiene practices, systemic health, and history and current use of medications. Detail oral examination of the oral cavity was done by a single examiner based on international criteria and WHO codes. There were more males 206 (67.8%) than females 98 (32.2%). The mean age for the study population was 42.61 years. The prevalence of Qat-associated white lesion, Smokeless tobacco-related lesions, leukoplakia, Lichen Planus, and oral cancer was 8.9%, 2.3%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.3% respectively. The prevalence of Qat chewing, smoking, waterpipe smoking, smokeless tobacco chewing was 58.2%, 24.3%, 7.6%, and 7.6% respectively. Oral precancerous lesions were significantly higher in males than females ( P < 0.05). Likewise, an association was found between occurrence of oral precancerous lesions and practicing of oral habits ( P < 0.05). This study provided information about the habit trends in the patients visiting this institution. it also reinforces the association between tobacco products and oral precancerous lesions.