A Retrospective Hospital-based Descriptive Study of Oral Cancer Patients over a Period of 3 Years

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a major public health challenge in India, constituting 50%–70% of all diagnosed cancers. Despite advances in treatment, survival outcomes remain suboptimal, largely due to late presentation and widespread high-risk habits such as tobacco chewing. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, hospital-based descriptive study analyzed 1236 histopathologically confirmed OSCC cases recorded at our institution, between January 2022 and December 2024 (03 years). Demographic and clinical parameters, including age, gender, lesion site, deleterious habits, and their duration, were retrieved and statistically evaluated using IBM SPSS (Version 27.0, Armonk, NY, USA: IBM Corp). Associations were tested using the Chi-square test, with P ≤ 0.05 being statistically significant. Results: Males predominated (69.3%; M:F = 2.4:1) with a median age of 53 years. The 50–59-year group was most affected (28.9%). Chewing habits were present in 91.6% of patients, chiefly gutkha (33.9%), betel quid (25.4%), and pan masala (19.4%). Buccal mucosa was the most common site (63.9%). A significant association existed between habit duration of more than 10 years, older age groups, and male gender ( P < 0.0001). Oral potentially malignant disorders (WHO 2022 criteria) were observed in 78% cases, predominantly accounting for leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis. Most patients belonged to lower socioeconomic strata (modified Kuppuswamy scale 2021). Conclusion: Middle-aged males with long-term chewing habits and low socioeconomic background represent the highest-risk group for OSCC development. The study underscores the urgent need for early detection, targeted public awareness, and community-level screening programs aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and improving oral cancer outcomes.