[Salivary flow and psychoactive drug consumption in elderly people].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the association between low saliva flow rates and the use of psychoactive drugs among the elderly.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out with 267 elderly people from 60 to 74 years of age who lived in a borough of the city of Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. Individuals with high functional dependence or restricted to bed were excluded. Saliva flow rate was the dependent variable with values under the first tercile being considered as low flow rates (less than 0.44 ml/min). The continuous use of psychoactive drugs (antidepressant, antiepileptic, sedative, antipsychotic, hypnotic or sedative-hypnotic drugs) was the independent variable. Multivariate analysis was performed taking into account gender, age and smoking status.


RESULTS
The majority of the elderly were women (80.5%), with a mean age of 66.5 years. Use of psychoactive drugs was observed among 31 elderly (11.6%). Mean saliva flow rate was 0.76 ml/min, lower among users of psychoactive drugs (0.67 ml/min). In the multivariate analysis, use of psychoactive drugs was associated with low saliva flow rates (<0.44 ml/min), independent of gender, age or smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that there is an association between use of psychoactive drugs and low saliva flow rates in this group of independent and non-institutionalized elderly. These conclusions stress the need of a rational use of these drugs, particularly among the elderly.
Cabrera
Marcos Aparecido Sarria
MA
Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR. marcoscabrera@uol.com.br
Mesas
Arthur Eumann
AE
Rossato
Luiz Angelo
LA
Andrade
Selma Maffei de
SM
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012636:Secretory Rate
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs