Prevalence of oral lesions among a sample of Bangladeshi medical users aged 40 years and over living in Tower Hamlets, UK

Abstract

To collect data on the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions among Bangladeshi medical care users aged 40 years and over and to explore the relationship of oral disease status and tobacco smoking and paan (betel quid) chewing. Multi-centre cross-sectional study. General medical practitioners' waiting areas in Tower Hamlets, UK. 185 Bangladeshi adults aged 40 years old and over. An oral mucosal examination, based on WHO criteria and an interview. Information on tobacco smoking and paan chewing behaviour was collected during the interview. Out of 185 adults there was a response rate of 74%. Oral mucosal lesions were observed in 40% of participants. The most common lesion was found to be leukoplakia with a prevalence of 25%. Significant relationships were found between smoking and the presence of oral pathology and between paan chewing with tobacco and the presence of leukoplakia. In this study of older Bangladeshi medical care users there was a high prevalence of oral mucosal lesions. Sensitively tailored health promotion interventions, which aim to reduce tobacco use, should be developed for this population.