Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption as risk factors for site-specific intraoral epithelial dysplasia

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of tobacco and alcohol as possible risk factors for oral epithelial dysplasia in the various oral subsites.

Methods: Data were gathered from 630 patients with oral epithelial dysplasia in the United Arab Emirates between 1997 and 2007. Odds ratios for oral epithelial dysplasia at various oral subsites were estimated using multiple logistic regression for each level of exposure of interest.

Results: The results showed that in males, oral epithelial dysplasia of the labial mucosa and floor of the mouth were strongly associated with tobacco smoking. In females, oral epithelial dysplasia of the floor of the mouth and tongue were the sites associated with tobacco smoking. Alcohol was not a significant determinant of the sites of oral epithelial dysplasia in either sex.

Conclusion: Tobacco smoking has a significant role in determining the oral epithelial dysplasia subsites, but alcohol consumption is not a risk factor for oral epithelial dysplasia sites.

Keywords: alcohol; mouth; oral epithelial dysplasia; risk factor; tobacco.