Oral Sub‐mucous fibrosis (OSMF): a study of associated habits and their impact

Abstract

Objective. To determine the incidence of associated habits in patients with OSMF. The relationship between the different habits and the severity of the disease.Design. Cross‐sectional Survey.Setting. Tertiary Referral Centre.Participants. Adult patients with OSMF.Outcomes Measured. (1) Association of different habits with OSMF. (2) Duration of chewing before onset of symptoms related to OSMF. (3) Severity of OSMF with respect to different chewing habits.Results. A total of 500 patients with OSMF were included in this study over 2‐year period. Except 3 patients (0.6%) rest all gave history of one of these chewing habits–(Pan‐Masala is a mixture of Arecnuts, Lime, Catechu and undisclosed sweetening and Flavouring agents). 432 (86.4%) of Pan‐Masala with Tobacco, 56 (11.2%) of only Tobacco, 8 (1.6%) of only Betel Nut, 1 (0.2%) of pan‐Masala without Tobacco. Smoking Tobacco had no statistically significant effect on the incidence of OSMF in any of these groups. In the above mentioned order the other associated factors were respectively. The mean duration of chewing before onset of symptoms in years 3.28, 3.95, 8.37 and 10. The proportion of patients with <2 finger mouth opening was 249/432 (57.63%), 28/56 (50%), 3/8 (37.5%), 0 (0%).Conclusion. The occurrence of OSMF is strongly associated with the habit of chewing Pan‐Masala with Tobacco and less so with only Tobacco or Betel Nut. Patients consuming Pan‐Masala with Tobacco develop this disease earlier then chewers of Tobacco and Betel Nut. Restriction of mouth opening is worst with Pan‐Masala with Tobacco.References 1 Ariyawardana A., Athukorala A.D., Arulanandam A. (2006) Effect of betel chewing, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption on oral sub‐mucous fibrosis: a case‐control study in Sri Lanka. J Oral Path & Med35, 197–2012 Ranganathan K., Devi M.U., Joshua E., Kirankumar K., Saraswathi T.R. (2004) Oral sub‐mucous fibrosis: a case‐control study in Chennai, South India. J Oral Path & Med33, 274–277