General health influences episodes of xerostomia: a prospective population‐based study

• Published in: Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 2017-04, Vol.45 (2), p.153-159
• Main Authors: Silva, Luciana, Kupek, Emil, Peres, Karen G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anthropometry; Brazil; Censuses; Demography; Dentistry; dry mouth; epidemiology; Female; Health; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Oral diseases; Pilot Projects; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; xerostomia; Xerostomia - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0301-5661; 1600-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12271

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the associated factors of changes in symptoms of xerostomia (SOX) in adults aged 20–59. Methods A prospective population‐based study was conducted in 2009 (n = 1720) and 2012 (n = 1222) in the urban area of Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Information on SOX was collected in both years together with age, family income, years of schooling, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, changes in the body mass index (BMI; kg/m²), medicine use, self‐reported diagnosis of chronic diseases, change in hypertension status and in the use and need for dentures, and number of remaining teeth. Associated factors with changes in SOX were investigated using multinomial logistic regression, considering those who had never reported this symptom as the reference. Results Prevalence of regular SOX was equal to 3.8% (95% CI: 2.9–5.1) and irregular (one period only) equal to 12.2% (95% CI: 10.2–14.5). Age, smoking habit, medicine use, self‐reported diagnosis of depression, and weight gain increased the probability of regular SOX, whereas highest schooling level was associated with lower probability of this symptom. Conclusions General and psychosocial health influenced the number of episodes of xerostomia symptoms, calling for multidisciplinary actions to prevent common risk behaviors for oral and general diseases.