PDF herunterladen
Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811555
Review Article

Risk Factors of Oral Cancer in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors

  • Monica Mocherla

    1   Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, Telangana, India
    2   Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

  • Pushpanjali Krishnappa

    3   Department of Public Health Dentistry, Ramaiah Dental College and Hospital, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

  • Denny John 

    4   Faculty of Life and Allied Health Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Funding DJ is the Project Director of an ICSSR-funded project focusing on multimorbidity (including cancers); however, he does not receive any financial support through this grant. All authors declare receiving no funding support for conducting this study.
Weitere Informationen
Auch verfügbar auf
  Lizenzen und Reprints
Preview

Abstract

Introduction

Oral cancer is associated with several well-known risk factors, including the use of betel quid, alcohol consumption, and tobacco smoking. Studies regarding oral cancer risk factors vary based on the different subgroups identified in the Indian context.

Objectives

This systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression aggregate data from various studies on oral cavity cancer risk factors in India.

Materials and Methods

From September 20 to 30, 2024, we searched for English studies on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Two independent reviewers selected studies based on title/abstract and full text, with adjudication by a third author. We utilized the JBI checklist for critical appraisal of case–control studies. The data provided information on participant demographics, cases and controls, evaluated risk factors, and odds ratios. A random effects model produced pooled estimates for each risk factor.

Results

Fifteen case–control studies conducted in the Indian population were included in the analysis. Our meta-analysis concludes that any form of tobacco use is the primary risk factor for oral cavity cancer, with risk rising consistently alongside the duration of use. Additionally, daily alcohol consumption significantly increases this risk. Chronic trauma to the oral mucosa also plays a substantial role in the development of oral cavity cancer. Sensitivity analysis and meta-regression indicated that factors such as sample sizes, case–control ratio, and study region had no significant impact. Funnel plots assessing publication bias in studies reporting tobacco smoking and chewing revealed no significant asymmetry, and Egger's test was nonsignificant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

There is sufficient evidence for the role of tobacco in both smoking and smokeless forms as a risk factor for oral cavity cancer in India.

Keywords

risk factors - oral cancer - systematic review - meta-regression - India

Data Availability Statement

Available as supplementary files.


Patient Consent

Not applicable.


PROSPERO Registration

CRD42024599556.


Supplementary Material



Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
28. August 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India