Risk Factors Associated with Oral Cancer: A Hospital-based Case-control Study in Telangana State, India

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Oral cavity cancer is a significant global health concern.
• Tobacco use and alcohol consumption are established risk factors, but the influence of other factors remains debated.
• Understanding the multifactorial nature of oral cancer is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various risk factors and the incidence of oral cancer.
• To quantify the risk attributed to specific factors like tobacco use duration and chronic oral trauma.
• To apply propensity score methods for robust risk factor analysis.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted in Hyderabad, India, involving 238 oral cancer cases and 450 controls.
• Data on risk factors were collected through direct interviews using structured questionnaires.
• Propensity score methods and weighted logistic regression were employed to analyze the associations.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and vegetable intake between cases and controls.
• Prolonged tobacco use (over 10 years) showed substantially elevated odds ratios for both smokeless tobacco (OR=9.09) and smoking (OR=8.96).
• Daily alcohol consumption (OR=5.69) and chronic oral trauma (OR=3.00) were also identified as significant risk factors for oral cancer.

Conclusions:

• This study reinforces tobacco use, particularly its duration, as a primary risk factor for oral cancer.
• Evidence supports the role of chronic oral trauma as a contributing factor to oral cavity cancer development.
• The findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions addressing tobacco cessation and oral health.