Prevalence of Oral Mucosal Lesions and Relation to Serum Cotinine Levels—Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in South Africa

Carla Cruvinel Pontes, Usuf Chikte, Faheema Kimmie-Dhansay, Rajiv T. Erasmus, Andre P. Kengne and Tandi E. Matsha
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Carla Cruvinel Pontes: Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Usuf Chikte: Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Faheema Kimmie-Dhansay: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Rajiv T. Erasmus: Division of Chemical Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Andre P. Kengne: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Tandi E. Matsha: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 7535, South Africa

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-10

Abstract: Oral mucosal lesions (OML) can decrease oral health-related quality of life and some have the potential to become malignant. The aim of the present study was to report the prevalence of OML in relation to age, sex, and serum cotinine levels in a population with mixed ancestry from South Africa. This study is part of the Cape Town Vascular and Metabolic Health (VHM) study, conducted between 2014–2016. Trained dental examiners assessed the oral mucosa for the presence of OML according to WHO criteria. In total, 1976 individuals were included in the study, being 1496 females (75.7%) and 480 males (24.3%) with average age of 49.5 years (SD = 15.3). In total, 262 lesions were detected in 252 participants (overall prevalence of 13%). Males had higher prevalence than females (14% vs. 9%, p = 0.008). Participants aged 25–34 had the highest prevalence rates (21%). Participants who had cotinine ≥15 ng/mL had higher prevalence of OML as compared to those with <15 ng/mL (15% vs. 5%, p < 0.001). Most common lesions were nicotine stomatitis (33%) and leukoplakia (19%). Age, male sex, and higher cotinine levels were associated with increased prevalence of OML.

Keywords: oral mucosal lesions; non-communicable diseases; oral health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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