Risk factors associated with decreased mouth opening among patients with oral submucous fibrosis [OSMF]

ABSTRACT

To determine the risk factors associated with decreased mouth opening among patients with OSMF. A cross-sectional study was performed in out-patient Dental Clinics,Tertiary care hospital and cases [diagnosed with OSMF], and the controls [who did not have OSMF] were recruited. The study questionnaire to collect information on demographics and clinical features were distributed among cases and controls and saliva samples were obtained for malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase. The variable [decreased mouth opening] was determined as a dependent/outcome variable. A descriptive comparative analysis was performed. The characteristics of cases and controls were compared. Co-relations were studied between various continuous variables. Cross-tabulations were performed between two categorical variables. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the associations between various independent variables, and the dependent variable - decreased mouth opening. Our study demonstrated that the mean age of our patients was cases 22.5 +/- 2.8 vs. controls 23.0 +/- 3.7 year, and they were more male cases as compared to controls. The cases were predominantly from lower socio-economic background. A multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that male gender, educational status [lesser education], higher levels of malondialdehyde, and lower levels of superoxide dismutase were associated with a greater risk of decreased mouth opening among patients with OSMF. Our study concluded that male gender, educational status [lesser education], higher levels of malondialdehyde, and lower levels of superoxide dismutase were associated with a greater risk of decreased mouth opening among patients with OSMF