Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional study
Introduction: Oral cancer, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is a significant global health issue, with India facing one of the highest incidence rates due to widespread tobacco and alcohol use. This study examines the impact of demographic factors, adverse habits, and socioeconomic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1833_24 |
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| author | Shiladitya Sil Rupa Ghosh Subhankar Ghosh Bodhisatta Mukherjee Rudra Pyne Sayani Shome |
| author_facet | Shiladitya Sil Rupa Ghosh Subhankar Ghosh Bodhisatta Mukherjee Rudra Pyne Sayani Shome |
| author_sort | Shiladitya Sil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction:
Oral cancer, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is a significant global health issue, with India facing one of the highest incidence rates due to widespread tobacco and alcohol use. This study examines the impact of demographic factors, adverse habits, and socioeconomic status on the development and progression of OSCC among patients in Kolkata, India.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 100 OSCC patients and 100 control subjects at a tertiary care centre in Kolkata over a year. Data were collected through structured questionnaires detailing demographic characteristics, adverse habits, socioeconomic status, and clinical presentations. Statistical analysis was performed using SYSTAT, with Student’s t-test, Chi-square tests, and one-way ANOVA used to assess associations between variables.
Results:
The mean age of OSCC patients was 53.5 years, and 65% were male. Tobacco and alcohol use were prevalent, with OSCC patients showing higher frequencies and longer durations of use compared to controls. Statistically significant associations were observed between OSCC diagnosis and both tobacco smoking and chewing habits (P < 0.05), as well as lower socioeconomic status. The mean presentation delay was 4.4 months, commonly due to initial consultations at non-specialized facilities and lack of awareness, with tongue lesions as the most frequent complaint site. Histopathologically, 57% of cases were poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, often diagnosed at TNM Stage II.
Conclusion:
This study highlights that demographic factors, adverse habits, and socioeconomic status significantly influence OSCC risk and severity in Indian patients. The findings underscore the critical need for early detection initiatives, particularly in lower socioeconomic groups, and suggest that reducing tobacco and alcohol use can mitigate OSCC risk. Equipping the primary care physicians with the knowledge of primary prevention and enhanced public awareness are recommended to reduce presentation delays and improve patient outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24f694c8a02a4b659fc1df7b7e056b25 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2249-4863 2278-7135 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-24f694c8a02a4b659fc1df7b7e056b252025-08-20T03:48:51ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352025-04-011441486149310.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1833_24Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional studyShiladitya SilRupa GhoshSubhankar GhoshBodhisatta MukherjeeRudra PyneSayani ShomeIntroduction: Oral cancer, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is a significant global health issue, with India facing one of the highest incidence rates due to widespread tobacco and alcohol use. This study examines the impact of demographic factors, adverse habits, and socioeconomic status on the development and progression of OSCC among patients in Kolkata, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 100 OSCC patients and 100 control subjects at a tertiary care centre in Kolkata over a year. Data were collected through structured questionnaires detailing demographic characteristics, adverse habits, socioeconomic status, and clinical presentations. Statistical analysis was performed using SYSTAT, with Student’s t-test, Chi-square tests, and one-way ANOVA used to assess associations between variables. Results: The mean age of OSCC patients was 53.5 years, and 65% were male. Tobacco and alcohol use were prevalent, with OSCC patients showing higher frequencies and longer durations of use compared to controls. Statistically significant associations were observed between OSCC diagnosis and both tobacco smoking and chewing habits (P < 0.05), as well as lower socioeconomic status. The mean presentation delay was 4.4 months, commonly due to initial consultations at non-specialized facilities and lack of awareness, with tongue lesions as the most frequent complaint site. Histopathologically, 57% of cases were poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, often diagnosed at TNM Stage II. Conclusion: This study highlights that demographic factors, adverse habits, and socioeconomic status significantly influence OSCC risk and severity in Indian patients. The findings underscore the critical need for early detection initiatives, particularly in lower socioeconomic groups, and suggest that reducing tobacco and alcohol use can mitigate OSCC risk. Equipping the primary care physicians with the knowledge of primary prevention and enhanced public awareness are recommended to reduce presentation delays and improve patient outcomes.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1833_24delayed presentationhead and neck canceroral cancerrisk factorstobacco and alcohol |
| spellingShingle | Shiladitya Sil Rupa Ghosh Subhankar Ghosh Bodhisatta Mukherjee Rudra Pyne Sayani Shome Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional study Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care delayed presentation head and neck cancer oral cancer risk factors tobacco and alcohol |
| title | Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional study |
| title_full | Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional study |
| title_short | Role of demographics, adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer- A questionnaire based cross sectional study |
| title_sort | role of demographics adverse habits and presentation delay on the development of head and neck cancer a questionnaire based cross sectional study |
| topic | delayed presentation head and neck cancer oral cancer risk factors tobacco and alcohol |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1833_24 |
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