Global Epidemiology of Quid Usage and Occurrence of Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

A BSTRACT Background: Hardly any study has been reported in the literature related to the occurrence of potentially malignant disorders with respect to the usage of smokeless forms of quid. Aim: To assess the prevalence of potentially malignant disorders and clinical correlation with the consumption of smokeless forms of quid. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 1800 smokeless quid chewers. Detailed habit history of chewing tobacco, arecanut, and both tobacco and arecanut was taken. Identification of quid-induced potentially malignant disorders was done, which were recorded, namely, homogenous leukoplakia, Betel chewer’s mucosa, quid-induced lichenoid reaction, Oral submucous fibrosis, Tobacco pouch keratosis, and Oral Cancer. Results: Prevalence of homogenous leukoplakia, betel chewer’s mucosa, quid-induced lichenoid reaction, oral submucous fibrosis, tobacco pouch keratosis, and oral cancer was reported to be (14.1%), (2.5%), (1.2%), (28.4%), (26.5%), and (0.2%), respectively. 55% chewers had been using quid containing both tobacco and arecanut had been found to be more prone to the occurrence of potentially malignant disorders as compared to others chewing tobacco 25.8% and arecanut alone 19.2% and the difference was reported to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Further studies should be done to find out the actual composition of the type and forms of quid, along with its concentration, to analyze their role in the occurrence of quid-induced potentially malignant disorders.