ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tobacco consumption is highest among labor classes and low socioeconomic status (SES), with inclination toward smokeless tobacco (SLT). AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of SLT consumption with secondary objective to profile various sachets of SLT most commonly sold in the study setting. SETTING AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted in rural Puducherry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-interviewed structured questionnaire was administered to 150 participants from two villages. Data on education, occupation, and income were collected with details in the form of tobacco consumed, duration of habit, daily consumption, and brand of SLT among other things. Profiling of sachets was done with manufacturing date, date of expiry, presence and absence of warning signs, and name of the manufacturer as parameter. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive analysis was done for frequency distribution and Chi-square test for proportions. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of SLT was 44% with women consuming more than males. 41-50-year-old were highest users of SLT. More than 50% of the participants were unaware of the "pictorial warnings" and 65% did not know about the presence of "contents" on sachets. Pan masala with tobacco was the most preferred form. Only 5 of the 23 commercial brands of sachets had both "pictorial and readable warnings" printed. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of STC was high when compared to the general population. Steps need to be taken to address the adverse effects printed on sachets for low SES populations. The printed warnings need to be inspected regularly. Dual tobacco use is a new addition to the existing list of challenges.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A case control study was carried out to evaluate the synergistic effects of habits quantified by habit index and its effect and severity on the clinicopathological features of oral leukoplakia in a cohort of 100 patients visiting Triveni Dental College, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients indulging in tobacco-related habits (smoking and smokeless forms) were categorized into two groups: A case/experimental group consisting of 50 patients presenting with oral leukoplakia lesion and a control group consisting of 50 patients with no clinical signs of oral leukoplakia. Habit index was calculated in both groups. Case group was further subjected to incisional biopsy of the lesion followed by histopathological examination. All the variables in the study were statistically analyzed for the mean, standard deviation, i.e., value of central tendency, z-test, test of significance, and Pearson's correlation (r-test). RESULTS: For p < 0.05 bidi habit index was significantly higher in the case group. Higher bidi habit index was evident in the severe stages of lesion ice, p < 0.001 (highly significant). The degree of dysplasia was higher with advancing clinical stage of the lesion. CONCLUSION: Higher bidi habit index in the case group contributed significantly for severe stages of lesion and thereby indicates its probable progression toward malignancy. Nonhomogenous leukoplakia of the speckled subtype exhibited moderate and severe epithelial dysplasia. Hence, quantification of tobacco-related habits and the clinical appearance of the premalignant lesion predict the risk of subsequent malignant transformation of the disease.
