White oral mucosal lesions among the Yemeni population and their relation to local oral habits

Aims: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of white oral mucosal lesions among Yemeni adults; in particular, those who chew khat and tobacco. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 1052 dental patients aged 15 years and older. A detailed oral examination was performed by a single examiner in accordance with standard international criteria. Results: Overall, 25.2% of the study participants presented with one or more white lesions. The most prevalent lesions were khat-induced white lesion (8.8%), leukoedema (5.1%), and frictional keratosis (3.9%). Potentially malignant lesions, such as lichen planus, leukoplakia, and smokeless tobacco-induced lesions, were seen in 2.4%, 1.2%, and 1.7% of participants, respectively. Moreover, three cases of oral cancer were identified. The presence of white lesions was found to be significantly associated with advanced age (P = .004), male gender (P = .009), and khat/tobacco chewing habits (P < .001). Conclusions: The present study demonstrates a high prevalence of oral benign and potentially malignant white lesions. Further, it highlights the urgent need to develop and implement new government policies to regulate the sale of these products to reduce the prevalence of these lesions and the overall incidence of oral cancers in the Yemeni population.