Abstract
Objective: To explore the environmental and dietary risk factors associated with oral cancer patients treated at Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro and nuclear Institute of Medicine and Radiotherapy (NIMRA), Jamshoro.
Materials and Methods: Total 291 oral cancer patients and 330 locality, age and gender matched controls with negative personal and family history of any cancer were interviewed through a standard questionnaire specially designed to study the risk factors for OC disease. Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were measured with level of significance p<0.05 for associations of risk factors with OC.
Results: The mean age range of OC patients was 38.8 – 45.8 years. Majority of OC Patients were male and married, belonged to labour workers. We found that alcohol, cigarette smoking, paan, main puri, supari, ghutka, naswaar and collective addiction were significantly positively associated with OC disease. Less consumption of meat, vegetables, fruits, more tea intake, deep fried food, using khula Pakwan oil (Non-branded oil) and khula ghee (Non-branded ghee) were significantly positively associated with OC disease.
Conclusion: labour work, alcohol, cigarette smoking, use of non-branded ghee and oil, main puri and collective addiction are considered as risk factors for oral cancer at Hyderabad and adjoining areas.
