Prevalence of Angular Cheilitis and Assessment of Factors Associated with It - A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Angular cheilitis is inflammation of the skin, occurring at the labial commissure – the angle of the mouth.
It is an eroded and erythematous non-vesicular lesion that can occur at one or both corners of the mouth.
The point of interface for squamous epithelium of the face and oral mucosa is at the angle of the mouth . It
is also a mechanically dynamic hinge for the oral aperture that endures more motion and tensile forces than
the rest of the lips. Thus, the commissures are especially susceptible to certain stresses. Other names for
angular cheilitis include angular cheilosis, angular stomatitis, commissural stomatitis, rhagades, or perleche.
The increased prevalence is associated with human immunodeficiency virus, usage of immunosuppressants
and corticosteroids, increased usage of oral prosthesis in the elderly, xerostomia, expanded usage of oral
antibiotics, obesity and diabetes to name a few. In young children, angular cheilitis is associated with
habitual lip licking, thumb sucking, or biting of the corners of the mouth, whereas in older patients it occurs
from sagging at the commissures of the mouth. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of
angular cheilitis and assessment of factors associated with it. A retrospective study was conducted in the
Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, India. Ethical clearance was obtained from SRB committee, Saveetha
Dental College, Chennai, India. The clinical portion of this retrospective study was conducted over a 9
month period,i.e, between June, 2019 to March,2020. Some patients reported with pain while for others it
was observed during routine examination. Data was collected from a total of 86000 patients who visited
Saveetha dental college between Jun,2019 to March,2020. Out of this, the data of 57 patients who visited
the institute and were diagnosed with angular cheilitis were retrieved. The data obtained was tabulated in
SPSS for windows, version 20. Descriptive statistics were analysed. Chi square test was done to analyse
association of habits of the patient with age, gender,dental status and systemic diseases of patients with
angular cheilitis. The results of the study indicated angular cheilitis was more predominant in males and it
was more predominant between 40-49 years of age. Angular cheilitis was more predominant in completely
edentulous patients and diabetes was the most common systemic disease among the patients. There was
statistically significant association between gender (P=0.002) and habits of the patient. However, there was
no statistically significant association between age(P=0.278), dental status (P=0.137) and systemic diseases
(P=0.817) with habits of the patient.