Epidemiological survey of oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia in aborigines of Taiwan

A population-based survey was designed to investigate the prevalence of are ca/betel quid chewing, oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia in a typical aboriginal community of southern Taiwan. Three hundred and twelve people 2 0 years of age or older were collected in the study. The prevalence of chew ing areca/betel quid was 69.5%, with an average of 17.3 portions a day for an average 24.4 years. More women (78.7%) than men (60.6%) chewed areca/bet el quid. The prevalences of oral submucous fibrosis and leukoplakia were 17 .6% and 24.4%, respectively. It was found that the odds ratio for chewing a reca/betel quid and having at least one of the above oral mucosal lesions w as 8.21, Any additional smoking or drinking habits were not significant for having oral mucosal lesions. Although the areca/betel quid in Taiwan does not contain any tobacco, a significant association was still identified bet ween areca/betel quid chewing and oral mucosal lesions.