title: Prevalence and handedness correlates of recurrent aphthous stomatitis in the Turkish population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to determine the relationship between recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and handedness, and to assess the prevalence of RAS in the Turkish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was conducted among 11,360 persons (5,705 males and 5,655 females) with a mean age of 30.4 years. A questionnaire focusing on handedness was administered to these patients. Handedness was assessed according to the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. The diagnosis of RAS was made on the basis of clinical appearance, location, and the patient's health history. RAS information of patients was collected by means of a data form specifically designed for this study. Subjects were informed about RAS. We took anamneses and filled out the investigation forms. Apart from patients with registration of current aphthae (average point prevalence, APP), patients who had a past two-year history (self-reported two-year prevalence, SRTP) of the lesion were also included in this study. Data were analyzed using the chi-square and logistic regression tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of RAS (APP) was 2.7 percent and that of a history of RAS (SRTP) 22.8 percent. Thus, the total prevalence (APP+SRTP), including present lesions and a two-year history (SRTP), was 25.5 percent. Adjusted results showed that females, left-handers, 10-30-year-olds, and nonsmokers were 1.53, 1.69, 2.05, and 1.61 times more likely to have RAS (APP+SRTP) than males, right-handers, 31-50-year-olds, and smokers, respectively (P<.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that left-handedness appears to be a predictor factor for RAS.
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. ycicek@atauni.edu.tr
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ciçek
authors.forename: Varol
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Canakçi
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozgöz
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ertas
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canakçi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology