Oral cancer screening in older adults in Thailand: a cross-sectional study

Rise in oral cancer risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic mandates a more diligent approach to oral cancer screening and treatment

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Prevalence of Oral Cancer at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India

Globally, oral cancer is still a major public health concern, with different lifestyle and socioeconomic variables influencing its occurrence. This study compared the prevalence and risk factors of oral cancer among students from private colleges in Pakistan, identifying patterns and variations in risk profiles within this group. This six-month cross-sectional research was carried out at Azra Naheed Dental College and Rahbar College of Dentistry, two private dental institutions in Lahore, Pakistan. Four hundred and thirty students between the ages of 18 and 30 who were split evenly between the two schools made up the sample. A well-structured questionnaire including lifestyle variables, oral cancer awareness, and demographic information was used to gather data. Dental practitioners with training conducted clinical oral exams to look for any indications of oral lesions. The demographic variables were summed up using descriptive statistics, and the relationships between risk factors and the prevalence of oral cancer were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to define statistical significance. Among the 430 students, 215 were from Azra Naheed Dental College and 215 were from Rahbar College of Dentistry; 12 students (5.58%) at Azra Naheed and 19 students (8.84%) at Rahbar College were found to have oral lesions. Regarding lifestyle factors, 69 students (32.22%) at Azra Naheed and 62 students (28.89%) at Rahbar College reported current tobacco use. Regular betel quid chewing was observed in 93 students (43.33%) at Azra Naheed compared to 77 students (35.56%) at Rahbar College. Dietary habits showed that 148 students (68.89%) at Azra Naheed and 138 students (64.44%) at Rahbar College consumed a diet high in processed foods. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified significant risk factors for oral cancer, including current tobacco use (odds ratio (OR) = 2.15, p = 0.001), regular betel quid chewing (OR = 2.87, p < 0.001), and a diet high in processed foods (OR = 1.62, p = 0.021). The research identifies important risk factors for oral cancer among dentistry college students, pointing to the need for focused preventative and educational initiatives to address lifestyle-related concerns.

To establish the time trends of the frequency and prevalence of oral cavity cancer in regard to age and gender in a 20-years (time period 1989 - 2008) cohort of Mexicans. 13,235 head and neck biopsies from the archive of the Oral Pathology Laboratory, Dental School, National Autonomous University of Mexico were revised. The cases with diagnoses of oral cancer were selected. Gender and age at diagnosis was obtained from medical records. The frequency and prevalence of oral cavity cancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma were assessed biannually in regard to the total number of population served by the oral pathology laboratory. The statistical significance of trends was established using the linear logistic regression (curve estimation) test (s 0.05). 298 cases (138 males; 160 females) of oral cancer were included; 167 (92 females; 75 males; female:male ratio: 1.1:1) corresponded to oral squamous cell carcinoma. From 1989 to 2008 the prevalence of oral cancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma increased 200% (s 0.05) and 100% (s 0.000) respectively. The increase of frequency and prevalence was observed in both genders however only in females was significant (s 0.000). We do not identify changes in the age at diagnosis. Oral cancer, specifically oral squamous cell carcinoma, has increase in Mexicans females in the last 20 years.

Guidelines recommend against routine breast and prostate cancer screenings in older adults with less than 10 years' life expectancy. One study using a claims-based prognostic index showed that receipt of cancer screening itself was associated with lower mortality, suggesting that the index may misclassify individuals when used to inform cancer screening, but this finding was attributed to residual confounding because the index did not account for functional status. To examine whether cancer screening remains significantly associated with all-cause mortality in older adults after accounting for both comorbidities and functional status. This cohort study included individuals older than 65 years who were eligible for breast or prostate cancer screening and who participated in the 2004 Health and Retirement Study. Data were linked to Medicare claims from 2001 to 2015. Data analysis was conducted from January to November 2020. A Cox model was used to estimate the association between all-cause mortality over 10 years and receipt of screening mammogram or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, adjusting for variables in a prognostic index that included age, sex, comorbidities, and functional status. Potential confounders (ie, education, income, marital status, geographic region, cognition, self-reported health, self-care, and self-perceived mortality risk) of the association between cancer screening and mortality were also tested. The breast cancer screening cohort included 3257 women (mean [SD] age, 77.8 [7.5] years); the prostate cancer screening cohort included 2085 men (mean [SD] age, 76.1 [6.8] years). Receipt of screening mammogram was associated with lower hazard of all-cause mortality after accounting for all index variables (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.67; 95% CI, 0.60-0.74). A weaker, but still statistically significant, association was found for screening PSA (aHR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99). None of the potential confounders attenuated the association between screening and mortality except for cognition, which attenuated the aHR for mammogram from 0.67 (95% CI, 0.60-0.74) to 0.73 (95% CI, 0.64-0.82) and the aHR for PSA from 0.88 (95% CI, 0.78-0.99) to 0.92 (95% CI, 0.80-1.05), making PSA screening no longer statistically significant. In this study, cognition attenuated the observed association between cancer screening and mortality among older adults. These findings suggest that existing mortality prediction algorithms may be missing important variables that are associated with receipt of cancer screening and long-term mortality. Relying solely on algorithms to determine cancer screening may misclassify individuals as having limited life expectancy and stop screening prematurely. Screening decisions need to be individualized and not solely dependent on life expectancy prediction.

Background The Akha hill tribe of older adults in Thailand, a culturally diverse minority, faces health disparities. Due to limited access to health information and services, those who are unable to read Thai are at a higher risk of developing hypertension. Consequently, hill tribe communities need community engagement to enhance healthcare access and communication between health workers and the community. Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of a community participation program on hypertension knowledge and health prevention behaviors among Akha older adults in Thailand. Methods This program was developed based on evidence and insights from community scholars and stakeholders. The program included three activities: 1] training the volunteers, 2] home visits by trained adolescent and adult volunteers, and 3] providing hypertension knowledge through village broadcasts. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted using an Akha-specific hypertension knowledge and prevention behaviors questionnaire. Results Among the thirty healthy Akha older adults who could not communicate in Thai, following the implementation of the community participation program, there was a significant increase in hypertension knowledge (P = 0.000) and HT prevention behaviors (P = 0.017). Conclusion The community participation program could improve hypertension knowledge and hypertension prevention behaviors of older adults in the Akha hill tribe by bridging the gap between the healthcare system and the community.

Introduction: The etiology of Oral Cancer (OC) is multifactorial, resulting from several factors that predispose to the development of this pathology, with a high incidence and mortality, and is among the 10 most common pathologies in the world. Objective: It was to carry out a retrospective longitudinal observational study on the incidence of oral cancer in patients treated at public health units in the municipalities of the State of Sao Paulo-Brazil, as well as to present the main clinical and demographic characteristics of these patients. Methods: This study followed a retrospective observational cross-sectional model (2018-2022), following the rules of clinical research of the STROBE. The present study used the database of the public health system in Brazil on the incidence and prevalence of oral cancer in health units in 467 municipalities in the State of São Paulo-Brazil, whose data are available for public consultation and do not require approval. by the research ethics committee. Participants with oral cancer records of different ethnicities, aged over 20 years, and of both genders were included. Participants who had missing registration data were excluded. For data analysis, the database was built in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, which was exported to the Minitab 18® statistical program. One-Way ANOVA with p&gt;0.05 was applied without a statistical difference in the CI95%. Results: The total number of municipalities in the State of São Paulo-Brazil analyzed was 467. Suspected oral malignancy did not present a significant statistical difference between the years 2018 and 2019 (0.33% vs. 0.30%), with p&gt;0.05 in CI95 %. The highest incidences of suspected oral malignancy occurred in 2018 and 2019. In addition, it was evidenced that the most frequent histological type was squamous cell carcinoma in all the years analyzed. Also, bad habits such as alcoholism, smoking, excessive exposure to the sun, and also genetic predisposition, the presence of HPV did not show to influence statistically the occurrences of oral neoplasms. Conclusion: Based on the objective of this study, the incidence of oral cancer in the municipalities of the state of São Paulo-Brazil was higher in the years 2018 and 2019, regardless of the action of predictors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, HPV, genetic predisposition and age. However, further studies need to be carried out in the periods from 2020 to 2022 to know the population that was absent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

IntroductionOral cancer is ranked among the ten most common cancers in the world and is a growing public health concern in Nigeria. However, the extent of the burden of oral cancer in Nigeria is poorly understood. A better understanding of the prevalence of oral cancer will inform the development and implementation of efficient and effective oral cancer prevention and management strategies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of oral cancer in Nigeria to guide relevant oral health interventions and policies.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science for studies published from 1990 until August 15, 2023. We included cohort, cross-sectional, case-control, descriptive, and interventional studies that reported prevalence data for oral cancer in Nigeria. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of oral cancer. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effect model. The Higgins inconsistency index -I2 index was used to evaluate heterogeneity. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist.ResultsIn total, 3025 articles were screened, and data from 7 studies with a total sample size of 9188 (1702 oral cancer cases) were included in the meta-analysis. Participants age ranged from 0 to 100 years. Oral cancer prevalence varied across the studies, ranging from 7.5% to 41%. The pooled prevalence of oral cancer in Nigeria was 20% (95% confidence interval, CI:0.11–0.28, I2 = 99%, P < 0.0001). An estimate of the total variation between studies revealed substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 99%). The prevalence rate differed between gender populations, with more predilection to males (11%) than females (7%).ConclusionsThe current analysis indicates an overall pooled oral cancer prevalence of 20% in Nigeria. The high burden of oral cancer in Nigeria highlights a need for public health interventions and policies to promote the prevention and early detection of oral cancer. The analysis also shows a higher prevalence of oral cancer among men. Population-based studies are necessary to better understand individual differences in oral cancer.

The utilization of breast cancer screening in older adults with dementia is debatable, challenging, and ethical issue. There has been a lack of evidence on breast cancer screening among older adults living with dementia. The purpose of this review to synthesize evidence of the literature regarding breast cancer screening in older adults living with dementia. Systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Google scholar from the earliest year to July, 2025. Search keywords included dementia, Alzheimer, cognitive impairment, cognitive impaired, cognitive dysfunction, breast cancer screening, mammography, and mammogram. Search results were uploaded and duplicates were removed using EndNote21. Both published studies and grey literature were included in this review. This study followed the PRISMA-ScR and the JBI guidance and for scoping review. Twelve studies were included in this review. Most studies were conducted in USA and used quantitative research methods. Many studies targeted older adults living with dementia and some studies targeted caregivers. The included studies had various focuses such as utilization rate, associated factor, comparison with elders without dementia, decision, benefit, harm, and cost effectiveness of breast cancer screening among older adults with dementia. Further studies are required to explore benefits, harms, decision-making, ethical issues, barriers, and facilitators of breast cancer screening among older adults living with dementia. More qualitative research and mixed methods research are needed. Future studies are needed to develop and evaluate clear and detailed guidelines on breast cancer screening in older adults living with dementia.

Background: Heavy metal pollution in farm soils is a grave concern in Taiwan. Previously, we found the incidence of oral cancer (OC) correlated positively with levels of nickel and arsenic in farm soils. Many OC patients have a second malignancy, among which esophageal cancer (EC) is the most common one in Taiwan.Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether these two cancers share some common risk factors.Methods: Taiwan began a compulsory national health insurance program in 1995. We used a database from this program to calculate the prevalence of EC and OC in Taiwan. We compared the prevalence of EC with prevalence of betel nut chewers in adults and the information of heavy metal in farm soils to look for any association.Results: The prevalence of OC and prevalence of EC were strongly correlated. The prevalence of betel nut chewing correlated with OC prevalence, but not with EC prevalence. An increased prevalence (1.9 fold) of EC was found where the farm soils contained high levels of nickel. Meanwhile, among the eight heavy metals studied, only the levels of nickel in the farm soils correlated statistically with the prevalence of EC.Conclusion: Nickel is probably a common environmental risk factor for esophageal cancer and oral cancer.

Risk and prevalence of oral cancer in patients with different types of lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Smoking and alcoholism are recognized factors associated with the prevalence of oral cancer. However, the role of these habits on the severity of lesions still needs to be elucidated. To evaluate the prevalence of tongue and mouth floor cancer according to the clinical stage and how it correlates with alcoholism and smoking habits in Brazil from 2000 to 2010. Data referring to 11,873 cases of tongue and mouth floor cancer were obtained from the Integrator Module of the Hospital Registry of Cancer. Internal inconsistencies (non-classified cases) and data with no relevant information were eliminated. The final sample value considered for statistical analysis was equal to 8417 cases. An analysis of frequency distribution and binary logistic regression modeling was performed, using a significance level of 5%. The concomitant use of alcohol and tobacco (69%, n = 5808) and clinical stage grade IV (55.9%, n = 4703) were the most frequent findings. A higher prevalence of advanced lesions was observed in 2008 (PR = 1.715, 95% CI = 1.254–2.347, p < 0.01). The prevalence ratio of advanced tongue and mouth floor cancer (clinical stages III and IV) was observed to be significant for both smokers only (p < 0.01; PR = 1.460; 95% CI = 1.222–1.745) and for individuals who were both smokers and alcoholics (p < 0.05; RP = 2.279; 95% CI = 1.980–2.622). Data from the 11-year registry suggest that smoking contributes significantly to the prevalence of advanced cases of tongue and mouth floor cancer. It is also implied that concomitant use of alcohol and tobacco increases the prevalence of advanced-stage oral cancer. Prospective cohort studies are still necessary to prove such relationships.

The health burden caused by smoking behaviour among older adults is an uncontrollable problem worldwide. In particular, the trend of smoking among the aging population is rapidly growing. It affects individuals, families, economies, and societies. Changes in health determinants influence the smoking behaviour of older adults who require health promotion so that they can take care of themselves. This cross-sectional study was performed using secondary data from the National Statistical Office of Thailand: Report of a survey of older adults in Thailand in 2017. The present study aimed to examine the health determinant factors associated with smoking behaviour of older adults in Thailand. Data were collected from 32,030 older adults using a structured questionnaire. Multi-level analysis was performed to identify the health determinants of smoking behaviour of older adults in Thailand by controlling the effect of other covariates. The results were presented as adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Among the 32,030 older adults, 15.11% of the respondents were smokers. Factors associated with smoking behaviour of older adults in Thailand were male sex (AOR: 6.36, 95% CI: 5.80–6.94, P-value &lt; 0.001), younger age (AOR: 4.35, 95% CI: 3.59–5.25, P-value &lt; 0.001), currently working status (AOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.23–1.59, P-value &lt; 0.001), very good physical health (AOR: 2.64, 95% CI:2.05-3.40, -value &lt; 0.001), alcohol consumption (AOR: 7.06, 95% CI: 6.44–7.43, P-value &lt; 0.001), and participation in group/club activities in the community (AOR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.08–1.28, P-value &lt; 0.001). There were significant differences in the risk of smoking among the older adults according to their health conditions and socialisation levels. This outcome reinforces the need to be alert for and respond to sex-related differences in the risk pattern and protective factors for smoking in older adults. Thus, it is critical to establish and implement an active and effective tobacco control program to protect the health of older adults, particularly considering Thailand's measures towards chronic disease prevention and increased life expectancy.

The occurrence of histologically diagnosed primary malignant tumors in Saudi and Yemeni patients in Gizan Province over the 11 years from 1982 to 1992 was analyzed. During the study period, 1398 malignancies of known primary site were seen in males and 972 in females. In common with other parts of Saudi Arabia, the overall incidence of malignant disease was low by Western standards with lymphoreticular malignancies relatively common and tumors of lung, bowel, breast and the female genital system relatively uncommon. Some malignancies are more common in Gizan Province as compared to elsewhere in Saudi Arabia. Oral cancer was the most common malignancy in females and the most common overall, probably due to widespread use of oral tobacco preparations. Liver cancer was the most common malignancy in males, reflecting the endemic nature of hepatitis B in the area. The incidence of bladder cancer, and particularly of squamous carcinoma of the bladder, was also more, probably due to the high incidence of schistosomiasis in the area. No significant trends in incidence of specific malignancies were noted over the 11-year study period, even though the period has been marked by dramatic and unprecedented changes in lifestyle and public health.