Fg. Macigo et al., THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA AND USE OF TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND KHAT BASED ON RELATIVE RISKS ASSESSMENT IN KENYA, European journal of oral sciences, 103(5), 1995, pp. 268-273
A case-control study was conducted to determine the significance of to
bacco, alcohol and khat (Catha edulis) chewing habits in the developme
nt of oral leukoplakia among Kenyans aged 15 yr and over. In a house-t
o-house survey, 85 cases and 141 controls matched for sex, age and clu
ster origin was identified and compared for these risk factors. Smokin
g unprocessed tobacco (Kiraiku) with a relative risk (RR) of 10.0 (95%
confidence interval (CI)=2.9-38.4) and smoking cigarettes (RR=8.4; 95
% CI=4.1-17.4) were the most significant factors. While the RR associa
ted with smoking cigarettes alone was 4.5 (95% CI=1.9-10.8), smoking o
f both products (RR=15.2) suggested probable synergy or additive effec
ts. Oral leukoplakia in 18 cases could not be attributed to smoking to
bacco. Commercial beer, wines and spirits were relatively weak, but st
atistically significant, risk factors. Traditional beer, khat and chil
ies were not significantly associated with oral leukoplakia.