Prevalence of oral pre-malignant lesions and its risk factors in an Indian subcontinent low income migrant group in Qatar.

BACKGROUND: The expatriate population in Qatar largely comprises workers from the Indian subcontinent which has a very high rate of oral malignancy. Social and cultural habits and as well premalignant risk factors in this population remain prevalent even after migration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study assessed the prevalence of risk factors and occurrence of oral precancerous lesions in a low income group expatriate community from the Indian subcontinent residing in Qatar. RESULTS: Among the 3,946 participants screened for oral premalignant lesions 24.3% (958) were smokers and 4.3 % (169) were pan chewers while 6.3% (248) were users of both smoked and smokeless forms of tobacco. Significantly higher proportion of industrial laborers (49.9%) followed by drivers (24.1%) were found to be smokers (p=0.001). The prevalence of white lesions was higher in smokers versus non-smokers 3.5% versus 2.3% (p=0.111), however this difference was statistically non-significant. Red and white lesions were highly significant (i.e. 1.2 % and 10.9% respectively) in the subjects with pan chewing and smoking habits (p=0.001). A significant proportion (8.9%) of the subjects with pan chewing habit showed evidence of oral precancerous lesions (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Even though smoking and pan chewing were two significant risk factors detected in this population, their prevalence and occurrence of premalignant lesions are low as compared to the studies conducted in their home countries.