Impact of tobacco smoking, betel quid chewing and alcohol consumption habits in patients with oral cavity cancer in Bangladesh

Background and Objective: Worldwide cancer is an important public health problem. Tobacco smoking, betel quid chewing and alcohol consumption are closely linked with the oral cavity cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the status of smoking, chewing and alcohol consumption habits of patients with oral cavity cancer in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among usual oral cancer patients, who attended at the outdoor of the City Dental College and Hospital during the period of January, 2015-February, 2017. Data on socio-demography, risk habit profiles, site of cancer and number of ulcer patients were recorded by previously designed questionnaire. Data entered in the data collection form were entered into the Microsoft Excel. The results obtained were expressed as Mean±SD. Results: A total of 200 oral cancer patients were selected for study and highest percentage 24.5% of the patients were in the age group of 60 years and above. It was found that highest percentage, 68.5% of the patients had habit of chewing betel leaf and 60.5% patients had habit of smoking. The most preferred mode of smoking was bidi (52.07%) followed by cigarette (44.63%) and very few were habituated with hookah (1.65%). For 38.3% patients single ulcer was detected in the palate and upper jaw and 52.9% patients had multiple ulcers in the tongue. Single ulcer was found to be high among 69.4% patients having habit of chewing betel leaf and highest multiple ulcers, 47.1% were reported for patients taking gul inside mouth. Conclusion: Tobacco smoking and chewing betel quid are strong risk factors in the development of oral cancer. Furthermore, age, gender, education and occupation influence the development of oral cancer.