Xerostomia and hyposalivation among a 65-yr-old population living in Oslo, Norway

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the prevalence and associated factors for xerostomia and hyposalivation in a young-elderly population. A random sample of 460 65-yr-old people living in Oslo, Norway, answered a questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination (237 men and 223 women; response rate 58%). Ten percent of respondents reported xerostomia. The median Summated Xerostomia Index was 6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5-7) and the median Clinical Oral Dryness Score was 2 (IQR: 1-3). The median unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) secretion rate was 0.34 (IQR: 0.20-0.53) mL min^-1 and the median stimulated whole saliva (SWS) secretion rate was 1.74 (IQR: 1.24-2.38) mL min^-1 . In 8% of the study participants the UWS secretion rate was ≤0.1 mL min^-1 and in 4% the SWS secretion rate was ≤0.7 mL min^-1 . Three percent of the study participants had both xerostomia and hyposalivation with respect to UWS. Xerostomia was significantly associated with medication use, having rheumatic disease, and having received radiation therapy to the head/neck region. Hyposalivation with respect to UWS and SWS was significantly associated with medication use and type II diabetes. Even though xerostomia and hyposalivation were not prevalent conditions in this population, clinicians should be especially aware of the salivary conditions in patients taking four or more medications, patients diagnosed with type II diabetes, and those who have undergone radiation therapy to the head/neck region.

Keywords: epidemiology; mouth dryness; saliva.