West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 1513-7368 22 9 2021 09 01 Oral Mucosal Lesions’ propensity as an Outcome Eventuated by Exhaled Carbon Monoxide (CO) Levels and Nicotine Dependency 2781 2788 89746 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.9.2781 EN Nidhi Naik Department of Public Health Dentistry, Goa Dental College and Hospital, Goa, India. 0000-0002-8967-8066 Ridhima Gaunkar Department of Public Health Dentistry, Goa Dental College and Hospital, Goa, India. 0000-0003-1019-100X Amita Kenkre Kamat Department of Public Health Dentistry, Goa Dental College and Hospital, Goa, India. 0000-0002-8429-5402 Vinayak Kamath Department of Public Health Dentistry, Goa Dental College and Hospital, Goa, India. 0000-0002-6483-291X Akshatha Gadiyar Department of Public Health Dentistry, Goa Dental College and Hospital, Goa, India. 0000-0003-4344-2717 Prachi Mungi Goa Medical College and Hospital, Goa, India. 0000-0003-4938-3148 Journal Article 2021 03 28 Objective: This study aims to assess the correlation of exhaled CO and nicotine dependence with the occurrence of oral mucosal lesions while also taking into consideration socio-demographic, clinical and anthropometrical characteristics of participants. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out among smokers who visited the tobacco cessation center at Tertiary Care Dental Hospital in Goa, India. An intra-oral soft tissue examination for detecting presence of oral mucosal lesions followed by a questionnaire-based interview for the measurement of exposure, sociodemographic factors, body mass index, cooking habits and nicotine dependence was conducted. The exhaled CO levels were measured with a CO breath analyzer. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 20.0 Descriptive statistics were calculated and multivariable analysis was done to assess the association of different variables with oral mucosal lesions and carbon monoxide levels. p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Of the 173 subjects enrolled in the study, 69.36% were without any lesions while 30.63% were diagnosed with some lesion. In the regression analysis, the variables of physical activity (present vs absent OR: 5.808), exhaled CO levels (OR: 1.098) and nicotine dependence (mild vs moderate OR: 6.518) were significant risk factors influencing the presence of oral mucosal lesions. Usage of both cigarettes and bidis by smokers exhibited highest mean exhaled CO values of 19.67±1.506 ppm. Exhaled CO levels were significantly higher in smokers who were overweight (14.96±9.14 ppm), physically inactive (13.98±8.26 ppm), highly nicotine dependent (20.67±8.30) and used coal for cooking (12.55±8.17). Conclusion: A robust correlation between exhaled CO levels, nicotine dependence and incidence of oral mucosal lesions was established. The multifactorial tenacity of exhaled CO which is affected by smoked tobacco as well as variables such as physical activity, BMI, cooking habits and type of smoking habit should be noted. https://journal.waocp.org/article_89746_e66a00dac98d1f0234a0e4e0595affb1.pdf