Exposure of the Brazilian population to risk factors for oral cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the profile of the Brazilian population exposed to risk factors for oral cancer, as well as the profile of patients in the high-risk group for this disease in Brazil. This study relied on a cross-sectional design, utilizing secondary data from the 2020 National Health Survey (PNS). The database used contained information on 90,846 individuals aged 18 and older. The dependent variable was “High-risk group for oral cancer development” and the independent variables were grouped into biological characteristics, educational level, access to health services, and self-care practices. In the multivariate analysis, odds ratios of outcomes were assessed using a logistic regression model. Individuals of white ethnicity, with low levels of education, residing in rural areas, not registered in the Family Health Strategy program, who have rarely or never seen a dentist, self-assessing their general health as poor, and lacking regular physical exercise were more likely to be in the high-risk group for the development of oral cancer. The data from the 2020 National Health Survey (PNS) demonstrate that a large portion of the Brazilian population is exposed to risk factors for oral cancer. This highlights the disparities in access to medical and dental health services, as well as in the educational and preventive interventions by healthcare professionals regarding risk factors for oral cancer.