Aspects of xerostomia prevalence and treatment among rheumatic inpatients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of xerostomia among inpatients with rheumatic disorders at the Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine (HKUM) and its association with age, sex, and xerophthalmia. Determining adequate treatment for xerostomia was also important, because untreated xerostomia may become aggravated and thus significantly impair patient's quality of life.


METHODS
The authors designed a special questionnaire for conducting all study-related enquiries. Patients for this study were selected according to their case records ranging from 1998 to 2004. In total, there were 483 cases chosen based on prevalent rheumatic diseases, which were most conducive to xerostomia.


RESULTS
The results showed no significant evidence that the prevalence of xerostomia increased with age. Also, women were more susceptible to rheumatic diseases than men (W:M = 10:1) and are more likely to be affected by xerostomia and xerophthalmia (W:M = 2.5:1). A significant correlation was found between xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Only 17.7% of xerostomia-positive patients were treated for xerostomia, in comparison with xerophthalmia-positive patients who were treated for xerophthalmia in 84.8% of cases. It was shown that the modalities of treatment administered for xerostomia were neither sufficient nor up-to-date according to current recommendations found in medical literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Xerostomia is closely correlated with xerophthalmia in rheumatic diseases. Xerostomia is more prevalent in older segments of population, especially in women, but we failed to prove statistical significance of older age in prevalence of sicca symptoms. Treatment administered to rheumatic patients for xerostomia in the HKUM is neither sufficient nor adequate.
Guobis
Zygimantas
Z
Department of Dental and Oral Diseases, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. zygimantasg@yahoo.com
Baseviciene
Nomeda
N
Paipaliene
Pajauta
P
Niedzelskiene
Irena
I
Januseviciūte
Giedre
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy