title: Xerostomia after radiotherapy and its effect on quality of life in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xerostomia is one of the one complications following radiotherapy that can affect quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess the severity of xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancers after radiotherapy and its effect on QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this longitudinal prospective study, the severity of xerostomia and related QoL were was assessed in 63 head and neck cancer patients who referred to the Radiotherapy Ward. Patients completed a xerostomia questionnaire (XQ) at the beginning, and 2, 4, and 6 weeks after treatment over a period of 6 months. Additionally, unstimulated saliva was collected using the spitting method at all 4 visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QoL significantly worsened with increased time (P = 0.0001); meanwhile, the severity of xerostomia increased significantly (P = 0.0001). However, there was no significant change in the amount of saliva at these 4 time points (P = 0.23). Regression analysis showed that with each milliliter decrease in saliva secretion, the QoL score decreased 2.25%. With one score increase in xerostomia, from the QoL mean score there was a 1.65% decrease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in saliva and xerostomia that resulted from radiotherapy plays an important role in worsening QoL among patients who undergo radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Although the amount of saliva has a significant association with QoL, the xerostomia score which shows subjects' general feeling also independently impacts QoL. In future studies, we recommend patient assessments for periods longer than 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Kerman Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman, Iran. skakoei@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakoei
authors.forename: Ali-Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Haghdoost
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rad
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadalizadeh
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pourdamghan
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakhaei
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahador
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology*