Evaluation of Oral Submucosal Fibrosis and Related Factors in Areca Nut Users

Background : Oral Submucousal Fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous condition often created in consumers of different products containing arecanut. These products are commonly used in countries like India and Pakistan. In Iran, it is commonly consumed in cities which are in proximity of Pakistan border including Chabahar. The present study is done in order to study OSF and other relating factors in consumers of products containing areca nut.
Materials and Methods : In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study, 362 consumers of products containing areca nut (pan, supari, gutka and etc.) were studied in order to examine the incidence of OSF. The diagnostic criteria were mouth-opening limitations, mucosa stiffness and touching the intramucous fibrotic bands. Information about the consumption amount, alternation, the type of consumed material and time of consumption was mentioned in the questionnaire. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS-14 and χ2 test.
Results : Of 362 consumers of areca nut (227 men (62.7%) and 135 women (37.3%)) in the age group 7-71 and average age of 27 years old, 61 person (16.9%) including 33 men (54.1%) and 28 women (45.9%) were suffering OSF. There was a significant relationship between OSF incidence and time, dose and alternation of consumption (p˂0.05). Age and sex didn’t have a certain correlation with OSF.
Conclusion : The recent study indicated a strong correlation between consumption of products containing areca nut and OSF.