ORAL INFECTIONS AND DENTAL FACTORS IN RELATION TO ORAL-CANCER - A SWEDISH CASE-CONTROL STUDY

We investigated the role of oral infections, dentition and dental X-ra ys for oral cancer in a north Swedish population. This case-control st udy consisted of 410 cases with oral cancer for the period 1980-89 and 410 matched controls. All subjects received a mailed questionnaire. T he response rates were 96% and 91% for cases and controls, respectivel y. The univariate analysis showed a statistically significant increase d risk for oral cancer among individuals reporting problems with recur rent clinical oral infection (odds ratio (OR) 3.8). Separate analyses were made for groups with a clearly stated HSV-1 infection (OR 1.9) an d highly suspected HSV-1 infection (OR 3.3) as reported by the subject s. Odds ratios were also calculated for infections in relation to toba cco and alcohol habits. For individuals reporting recurrent infection problems an increased risk was observed in every combination category. Dental factors such as different fillings, dentures and fixed prosthe ses showed no increased risks. Dental X-ray did not produce an increas ed OR either. A multivariate analysis suggested that the most importan t risk factors were oral infections followed by liquor consumption and active smoking. (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.