Oral health and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and esophagus: results of two multicentric case-control studies.
Poor oral health has been reported as a risk factor in the etiology of head and neck cancer. Data on oral health were ascertained as part of two multicenter case-control studies comprising 924 cases and 928 controls in central Europe and 2,286 cases and 1,824 controls in Latin America. Incident cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx) and esophagus, as well as age (in quinquennia)- and sex frequency-matched controls, were enrolled from 1998 to 2003. Poor condition of the mouth (central Europe: odds ratio (OR) = 2.89, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74, 4.81; Latin America: OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.42), lack of toothbrush use (Latin America: OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.28, 4.36), and daily mouthwash use (Latin America: OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.96, 5.89) emerged as risk factors for head and neck cancer, independent of tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Missing between six and 15 teeth was an independent risk factor for esophageal cancer (central Europe: OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.26, 6.41; Latin America: OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.59). These results indicate that periodontal disease (as indicated by poor condition of the mouth and missing teeth) and daily mouthwash use may be independent causes of cancers of the head, neck, and esophagus.
Guha
Neela
N
International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Boffetta
Paolo
P
Wünsch Filho
Victor
V
Eluf Neto
Jose
J
Shangina
Oxana
O
Zaridze
David
D
Curado
Maria Paula
MP
Koifman
Sergio
S
Matos
Elena
E
Menezes
Ana
A
Szeszenia-Dabrowska
Neonila
N
Fernandez
Leticia
L
Mates
Dana
D
Daudt
Alexander W
AW
Lissowska
Jolanta
J
Dikshit
Rajesh
R
Brennan
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors