A Study on Dental Caries and Risk Factors for Non Communicable Diseases among Undergraduate Medical Students of Palakkad District, Kerala

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is the most widespread oral disease worldwide and constitutes a major global

public health challenge. The modifiable risk factors for dental caries and non communicable diseases are

obesity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use, alcohol consumption. Aims: To find out the association between

dental caries and risk factors for non communicable diseases among medical students. Methods: A cross

sectional study was done among undergraduate medical students of our institution and total 554 students

were included. They were asked to visit dental clinic for dental examination and their risk factors for non

communicable diseases like body mass index, waist hip ratio, and family history of diabetes mellitus, regular

exercises and type of personality were recorded using a self administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis

used: SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. Results: The dental caries was present among 428 (77.3%)

of undergraduate medical students. Out of 554 students 144 (26%) of them were overweight and 92(16.6%)

were obese. There was statistically significant association between BMI, waist hip ratio and dental caries.

Conclusions: The present study concludes that those students with higher BMI and high risk of waist hip

ratio had higher prevalence of dental caries. Since the risk factors are common for dental caries and non

communicable diseases s a healthy eating habits and lifestyle modification need to be started in all medical

colleges