Oral submucous fibrosis: study of 1000 cases from central India

Background: Very few reports have been published on the gender specificity of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) in relation to habit patterns and the severity of disease in the world literature. The purpose of the study was to ascertain the gender specificity for different habits and severity of OSF. Methods: A hospital‐based cross‐sectional study on various habit patterns associated with OSF was performed in Nagpur over a 5‐year period. A total of 1000 OSF cases from 266 418 out patients comprised the study sample. Results: The male‐to‐female ratio of OSF was 4.9:1. Occurrence of OSF was at a significant younger age group (<30 years) among men when compared with women (OR = 4.62, 3.22–6.63, P = 0.0001). Reduced mouth opening, altered salivation and altered taste sensation were found to be significantly more prevalent in women when compared with men. Exclusive areca nut chewing habit was significantly more prevalent in women (OR = 44.5, 25.4–79.8, P = 0.0001). Whereas significant increase for Gutkha (Areca quid with tobacco) (OR = 2.33, 1.56–3.54, P = 0.0001) and kharra / Mawa (crude combination of areca nut and tobacco) (OR = 6.8, 4.36–11.06, P = 0.0001) chewing was found in men when compared with women. Conclusions: There is a marked difference in literacy, socioeconomic status, areca nut chewing habits, symptoms and disease severity in women when compared with men in the central Indian population.