Risk factors associated with oral lesions in HIV-infected heterosexual persons and intravenous drug users in Thailand

Risk factors associated with oral lesions in HIV-infected heterosexual persons and intravenous drug users in Thailand
ปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อการเกิดรอยโรคในช่องปากในผู้ติดเชื้อเอชไอวีกลุ่มรักต่างเพศ และกลุ่มผู้ติด ยาเสพติดชนิดฉีดเข้าเส้นในประเทศไทย

Wipawee Nittayananta, Assoc. Prof., D. of Stomatology, F. of Dentistry, PSU
Nilnara Chanowanna, D. of Stomatology, F. of Dentistry, PSU.
Sasithorn Sripatanakul, D. of Stomatology, F. of Dentistry, PSU.
Than Winn, Epidemiology Unit, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Corresponding e-mail : nwipawee@ratree.psu.ac.th

Grant : Prince of Songkla University
Published : Research Report
Key words : AIDS, alcohol, gender, heterosexual, HIV, intravenous drug user, oral lesion, risk factors, smoking, Thailand

This study was aimed to identify factors associated with the presence of oral lesions in HIV infected individuals in Thailand, to determine the influence of gender and route of HIV transmission on the prevalence of the lesions, and to investigate if total lymphocyte count can be used as a sero- logic marker to predict the occurrence of oral lesions. Two hundred and seventy-eight HIV-infected heterosexual persons and intravenous drug users (IVDUs) were enrolled (230 males, 48 females). Eighty-six HIV-free subjects from the same population were included as controls (61 males, 25 females). Oral candidiasis was the most common oral lesion among HIV-infected individuals (39.6%), followed by hairy leukoplakia (HL) (26.3%), exfoliative cheilitis (18.3%), and linear gingival erythema (LGE) (11.5%). Odds ratio (OR) for factors associated with the presence of oral lesions were as follows; advanced HIV disease defined by both clinical status; symptomatic stage [OR=18.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.3-47.2], AIDS stage[OR 7.3; 95% CI 3.4-15.7] and laboratory investigation of total number of lymphocytes cell count of 1,000-2,000 cell/mm³ [OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.4-5.1] and <1,000 cell/mm³ [OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.3-7.0], alcohol consumption [OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.3-9.1], and poor oral health [OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.0-2.9]. Men were significantly more likely to have oral lesions than women. No statistically significant difference on the presence of oral lesions was observed between the heterosexual persons and IVDUs. This study should help predict the risk of acquiring various types of oral lesions, given that the person is exposed to multiple risk factors compared to another who is not exposed to these factors.

BACK