Factors associated with hyposalivation and xerostomia in older persons in South Brazil

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to investigate characteristics associated with xerostomia and hyposalivation in older persons. Background Saliva is one of the most important body fluids and plays an important role in food bolus formation, lubricating the oral mucosa and protecting teeth against demineralisation. Materials and methods This is a cross‐sectional study nested within a cohort and includes a sample of 872 older persons living independently in the community, both in rural and urban areas in Carlos Barbosa, Brazil. Data collection included standardised interviews to identify sociodemographic, behavioural and health‐related variables, as well as oral clinical examination performed by two trained/calibrated dentists. Poisson regressions with robust variance were used to calculate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals. Results The mean age was 68.5 ± 6.7 years, and the majority of the sample consisted of women (65.3%). The prevalence of xerostomia, of low stimulated salivary flow rate and low at rest salivary flow rate were 338 (38.8%), 494 (56.6%), 320 (36.7%), respectively. In the final adjusted model, women had a significantly increased prevalence of xerostomia (PR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.12‐1.61), as well as participants taking medication continuously (PR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.16‐1.82) and those with depressive symptoms (PR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.27‐1.76). Lower at rest (PR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.22‐1.72) and lower stimulated salivary flow were more prevalent in women (PR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.11‐1.44), while lower stimulated salivary flow was more prevalent in older persons taking medication continuously (PR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07‐1.43). Conclusion Salivary hypofunction and xerostomia were more prevalent in women and in those with continuous medication use; however, depressive symptoms were associated only with xerostomia. Measures are required to promote oral comfort in cases of xerostomia, thereby reducing the unpleasant sensation of dry mouth and hyposalivation consequences in clinical practice.

Relationship between Subjective Oral Discomfort and Health-Related Quality of Life in the South Korean Elderly Population

“…Furthermore, with age the salivary glands undergo morphological changes, which gradually reduce saliva secretion. Not only does reduced saliva secretion lead to increased vulnerability to dental caries and periodontal diseases in the elderly, but it can also result in oral ulcer and erythema, causing severe discomfort when wearing dentures [3,4]. In addition, oral health has a great impact on self-esteem and quality of life (QOL) in the elderly because it affects pronunciation and physical appearance, which are both of vital importance to social life and interpersonal relationships [5,6].…”

A hipossialia em pacientes polimedicados

“…No estudo foi aplicado um questionário composto por três partes distintas. A primeira parte incidiu sobre as variáveis sociodemográficas associadas à amostra, as quais estabelecem uma estreita relação, frequentemente descrita na literatura científica, com o estado de saúde oral de uma população (Islas-Granillo et al, 2017;Rech et al, 2019). A segunda parte envolveu a aplicação do questionário validado em versão portuguesa do Summated Xerostomy Inventory (SXI-PL) com a finalidade de avaliar e descrever a autoperceção e severidade da xerostomia (Amaral et al, 2018).…”

“…Em conformidade com os resultados obtidos pelo estudo supramencionado não se verificou associação (p=0,968) entre as variáveis hipossialia e etnia (Aguiar, 2017). (TFSNE) e 46,7% (TFSE) (Rech et al, 2019). Porém, notou-se uma heterogeneidade nos resultados de diversos estudos, nos quais os respetivos autores referiram a prevalência de hipossialia em indivíduos que frequentavam até ao 3º Ciclo (17,2% para TFSNE e 15,5% para TFSE) (Hugo et al, 2008) No que concerne ao rendimento familiar mensal, registou-se a prevalência de hipossialia em indivíduos que referiram um rendimento entre 1 e 2 salários mínimos nacionais (20%), ou seja, entre 635€ e 1 270€.…”

“…No que diz respeito ao estado civil verificou-se a prevalência de hipossialia no grupo de casados(as)/ união de facto (32,5%), o que vai ao encontro do estudo de Rech et al (2019), no qual se observou a prevalência de hipossialia nos habitantes do município de Carlos Barbosa (Brasil) que pertenciam ao grupo dos casados: 33,6% (TFSNE) e 43,5% (TFSE) (Rech et al, 2019). De acordo com os Censos de 2011, verificou-se que a maioria da população portuguesa era casada (47%), o que ajuda também a explicar os resultados do presente estudo (Instituto Nacional de Estatística, 2012).…”

“…Não se registou associação entre as variáveis hipossialia e estado civil, o que vai de acordo com os resultados (p=0,7474) do estudo de Islas-Granillo et al 2014, embora contrarie os resultados do estudo de Rech et al (2019), no qual se verificou associação entre estas variáveis (p=0,028).…”