title: Association between salivary flow rate and the use of systemic medication among 76-, 81-, and 86-year-old inhabitants in Helsinki, Finland.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine salivary flow rate and its association with the use of medication in a representative sample of 76-, 81-, and 86-year-old subjects, totaling 368. In this study, 23% (n = 80) of the subjects were unmedicated. From one to three daily medications were used by 47% (n = 168) and more than four medications by 30% (n = 104). The most commonly used medications were nitrates, digitalis or anti-arrhythmic drugs (47.7%), analgesics and antipyretics (32.6%), and diuretics (29.5%). The mean number used daily was significantly higher in 86-year-olds than in the two younger age groups (p < 0.01). No significant differences in this respect were found between genders. Among the unmedicated subjects, 76-year-olds had significantly higher stimulated salivary flow rates than did the 81-year-olds (p < 0.05). Unmedicated women showed significantly lower unstimulated (p < 0.01) and stimulated flow rates than did men (p < 0.05). Stimulated salivary flow rate was also significantly higher in the 76-year-old medicated subjects than in the medicated 86-year-old subjects (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in unstimulated salivary flow rates among the three age groups. Medicated women showed significantly lower unstimulated salivary flow rates than men (p < 0.001), although the difference in stimulated saliva flow was not significant. A statistically significant difference in unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates was found between unmedicated persons and those who took from four to six, or more than seven, prescribed medications daily.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Närhi
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Meurman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ainamo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Kaunisaho
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siukosaari
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valvanne
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erkinjuntti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tilvis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mäkilä
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009566:Nitrates; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents