Impact of habitual betel nut chewing on cardiovascular risk and outcome: A systematic review.

Abstract

Habitual betel quid chewing is a leading cause of oral cancer in Asia-Pacific countries where this practice is prevalent. While health policies have focused on countering betel quid chewing concerning cancer, current policies and health promotion strategies overlook the emerging link to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This oversight could be due to inadequate studies demonstrating the association between betel quid chewing and cardiovascular risk. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review and narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed published studies showing habitual betel quid use as a cardiovascular risk factor.