Investigation Of Association Of Oral Cancer And Betel-nut Chewing Based On A Case-control Study

Objects: The objectives of this study is to explore the independent effects of betel-quid chewing, alcohol drinking, and cigarette smoking on oral cancers by hospital- and community-based case-control study at a same time.Methods: Both hospital- and community-based case-control studies were design using structured depth interview questionnaires with study participants from August 2005 to July 2007 in Taiwan. A total of 175 patients were newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed with oral cancer as cases. Meanwhile, a total of 223 oral clinical patients other than oral cancer as hospital controls. And the community controls were randomly selected form community with the number of 1,588. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were estimated according to past history and frequency of the cancer-inducing behaviors.Results: According to analyses reveal betel-quid chewing was independently related to oral cancer, with adjusted odds ratios of 11.6 (95% CI=5.2 to 25.8) and 17.8 (95% CI 10.1 to 31.3) when compared with hospital controls and community controls, respectively. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed a higher risk at each exposure level related to chewing habit, quantity, and cumulative effects in oral cancer compared with non- betel-quid users. Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking were also increased risk for oral cancer.Conclusions:The conclusions of this study were that each risk factor differentially impacted on oral cancer. Betel-quid chewing without tobacco could be independently associated with oral cancer. Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking could modify the effect of betel-quid chewing for increasing risk for oral cancer...