1218 Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Fissured Tongue
W.M. CARPENTER, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, USA, and J.D. SHULMAN, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, USA

Fissured Tongue (FT) is a relatively common, benign condition manifested by numerous small furrows (grooves, fissures) on the dorsal surface of the tongue that often radiate from a central groove along the midline. Considerable variation exists and these fissures usually range from 2-6 mm in depth. The etiology is unclear but heredity and/or aging may be factors.

Objectives: To report FT prevalence in adults participating in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994 (NHANES III), a large US study based on multistage probability sampling.

Methods: Oral examinations were performed by dentists using World Health Organization criteria for diagnosing FT; a health interview was performed, and blood was drawn at examination. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed using SAS-callable SUDAAN 9.0.1. All analyses accounted for the design effect and yielded unbiased standard error estimates. Results are presented in terms of unadjusted (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR).

Results: FT was found in 194 of 16,833 adults (point prevalence 0.91%). Higher FT prevalence was found in males (1.11%) (OR=1.55; 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.23) than females (0.72%); individuals with low (<12 ng/mL) ferritin (OR=3.15; 1.15 - 8.60); geographic tongue (GT) (OR = 10.38; 4.55 - 23.67); diabetes history (OR=2.45; 1.46 - 4.03); AGE: <60 (OR=11.79; 4.10 - 33.92); 40-59 (OR=5.32; 1.94 - 14.54) compared to 17-39 years; Whites (OR=2.11; 1.28 - 3.51) compared with Blacks. A multivariate logistic model adjusted for AGE and AGE2 showed that males with GT had the highest AOR (21.45; 9.34 - 49.25), followed by females with GT (AOR=6.25; 2.30 - 16.93); and males with no GT (AOR = 1.41; 0.92 - 2.15) compared to females without GT.

Conclusions: These findings are consistent with the current associations reported of FT with aging, male gender and GT. Further genetic studies may determine the exact etiology.

Seq #129 - Clinical Diseases and Pathogenesis
3:30 PM-4:45 PM, Thursday, March 22, 2007 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Exhibit Hall I2-J

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