Prevalência de xerostomia e fatores associados em uma população de idosos do sul do Brasil

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of xerostomia and associated factors in older adults of Southern Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in Pelotas, Brazil, during 2014 as a baseline for a cohort study. A representative sample of the city’s older adult population (60+) was selected (n=1,451). The outcome was self-reported feeling of dry mouth in the past 6 months. Covariates included socioeconomic status, schooling, sex, age, tobacco and alcohol consumption, polypharmacy, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, depression, dentition status and use of prosthesis. All variables were collected with questionnaires applied by trained interviewers at the individuals’ households. Descriptive analysis was carried out and multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression to obtain prevalence ratios. Results: The prevalence of xerostomia was 36.7% (CI 95% 34.2 – 39.3). After adjusted analysis, significant associations were observed between xerostomia and being female (PR 1.47, CI 95% 1.19 – 1.81); having lower schooling (PR 1.39, CI 95% 1.13 – 1.70); polypharmacy (PR 1.20, CI 95% 1.00 – 1.65); arthritis (PR 1.40, CI 95% 1.16 – 1.69) and depression (PR 1.46, CI 95% 1.20 – 1.82). Conclusion: A high prevalence of xerostomia in older adults was observed. Health professionals involved in older-adult care should be especially aware of those with depression, arthritis, polypharmacy, lower schooling and females, as this study shows that these adults presenter higher risk for reporting xerostomia.