Oral Lichen Planus and Its Association with Metabolic Syndrome—A Case Control Study

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic, immune-mediated mucocutaneous disorder with potential systemic associations. Emerging evidence suggests a link between OLP and metabolic syndrome (MS), a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MS among OLP patients compared to matched controls. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020 at a tertiary care dental teaching hospital in South India. A total of 105 histopathologically confirmed OLP patients and 105 age- and sex-matched controls were included. Data on anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profiles, fasting glucose, and atherogenic indices were collected. MS was defined using Anup Mishra’s criteria for Asian Indians. Results: MS was present in 70.5% of OLP patients and 42.9% of controls (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.80–5.63; P < 0.001). OLP patients exhibited significantly higher mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and lower HDL-C. Dyslipidemia and abnormal atherogenic indices were more prevalent in the OLP group. Conclusion: A significant association exists between OLP and metabolic syndrome. Routine metabolic screening in OLP patients may help reduce future cardiovascular risk.