The prevalence correlation between oral mucosal lesions and systemic diseases in the elderly Libyan population: A single-centre study

Abstract

Background: Age has an important influence on the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs). OMLs could be due to infection, local trauma or cultural and lifestyle factors such as tobacco, betel quid, or alcohol consumption. The prevalence of OMLs is an important parameter for evaluating the oral health of any population. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the correlation between OMLs and systemic diseases (SDs) in the sample of the elderly Libyan population. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 232 geriatric Libyan patients. Intraoral mucosal clinical examination was performed on new patients seen in the period from June 2024 to February 2025. The collected data were processed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®, version 24.0, IMB®) and Stata/SETM 11.1 statistical software. Results: The prevalence of OMLs was 71.1%, and the most common OML was fissured tongue (FT). The most common systemic disease (SD) was diabetes mellitus (DM). A burning sensation was observed in 20 cases (12.1%). There was a significant association between OMLs and SDs. Conclusion: The prevalence of OMLs was notably high. The most common OML identified was FT, followed by angular cheilitis (AC), which decreased with age. The most prevalent SD was DM. A significant association exists between OMLs and SDs.