Prevalence and risk factors associated with geographic tongue among US adults.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the prevalence of geographic tongue (GT) among US adults.


METHODS
Population-based case-control study.


METHODS
The presence or absence of GT.


METHODS
Data from 16 833 adults examined during The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994 (NHANES III), a study based on multistage probability sampling were analyzed using SAS-callable SUDAAN 9.0.1.


RESULTS
Geographic tongue point prevalence was 1.8% (95% CI: 1.4, 2.3). Multivariate logistic regression showed significant effects of race-ethnicity, with Whites (AOR = 1.8; 1.3, 2.5) and Blacks (AOR = 1.6; 1.2, 2.1) having greater odds of GT than Mexican-Americans; current corticosteroid therapy (AOR = 3.7; 1.54, 8.6). Cigarette smokers had lower GT prevalence (AOR = 0.4; 0.3, 0.6). Fissured tongue (FT) was strongly associated with GT among non-smokers: AOR = 17.5 (7.8, 39.5). We did not find significant associations with age, gender, oral contraceptive use, diabetes mellitus, allergy or atopy, psychological or dermatological conditions as previous research has suggested.


CONCLUSIONS
Geographic tongue was more prevalent among Whites and Blacks compared with Mexican-Americans, positively associated with FT, and inversely associated with cigarette smoking.
Shulman
J D
JD
Department of Public Health Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Dallas, TX 75246, USA. jshulman@bcd.tamhsc.edu
Carpenter
W M
WM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005929:Glossitis, Benign Migratory / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014063:Tongue, Fissured / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D013256:Steroids