Risk factors for oral mucositis in patients with malignant tumors: a prospective cohort study

To investigate the incidence and risk factors of oral mucositis in patients with malignant tumors.

A total of 74 patients with malignant tumors who were hospitalized in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2020 to December 2020 were selected and divided into two groups according to whether oral mucositis occurred (n=45) or not (n=29). Chi-square test was used to compare the general data between the two groups, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors of oral mucositis in patients with malignant tumors.

Oral mucositis occurred in 45 of 74 malignant tumor patients (60.8%), and the incidence in patients with head and neck tumors was significantly higher than in those with chest and abdomen tumors (P<0.05). A significantly higher incidence was also seen in patients with poor oral cleanliness in comparison to those with high oral cleanliness; in radiotherapy patients in comparison to non-radiotherapy patients; in patients who received Nituzumab during radiotherapy in comparison to those who did not, and in patients receiving eight cycles of chemotherapy in comparison to those not receiving chemotherapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that oral cleanliness, radiotherapy, and duration of radiotherapy were independent risk factors for oral mucositis in patients with malignant tumors (P<0.05).

Poor oral cleanliness, radiotherapy, and longer duration of radiotherapy lead to the occurrence of oral mucositis in patients with malignant tumors, and these risk factors should be targeted for intervention to reduce the occurrence of oral mucositis.