Socio Psychological Bio Chemical and Physiological determinants of Health and Disease in executive health check up

Abstract

Background: Globally Oral Cancer alone is responsible for more than 6 million deaths each year globally, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed annually. Hence, it is the 6th most common cancer in the world. India alone accounts for one third of the world’s oral cancer. India is considered as an oral cancer capital of the world with an estimated 1% of the population having oral premalignant lesions. Most people affected by oral cancer are from lower socio-economic strata of society due to the higher prevalence of life style risk factors. Tobacco is a product that contains thousands of carcinogens which makes oral cavity more vulnerable to pre-cancerous lesions and cancer. Its consumption is directly proportional to early occurrence of carcinoma. Oral cancers and premalignant lesions have well-defined clinical diagnostic features; oral cancers are typically detected in their advanced stages as compared to precancerous lesions and conditions. Early detection of oral precancerous lesions is practically possible and associated with a high expectation of the prevention of deformity, relapse, and mortality. The present study therefore aims at estimating the magnitude of oral precancerous lesions and conditions among the rural population of Belgaum.