title: Relationship between xerostomia and salivary flow rates in HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between self-reported xerostomia and salivary flow rates among HIV-infected individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed on 173 individuals (81 HIV-infected individuals, mean age: 32 years, and 92 non-HIV controls, mean age: 30 years). Subjective complaints of dry mouth, based on a self-report of xerostomia questions, and dry mouth, based on a visual analogue scale (VAS), were recorded along with measurements of salivary flow rate of both unstimulated and wax-stimulated whole saliva. The relationship between subjective responses to the xerostomia questions, the VAS of dry mouth, and objective measurements of salivary flow rates were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses to the questions--Do you carry water or a saliva substitute? and Have you had taste disturbance?--were significantly different between HIV-infected and non-HIV individuals (P < 0.05). Individuals' responses to questions concerning dry mouth were significantly correlated with a low unstimulated salivary flow rate. A significant correlation between the VAS of dry mouth and salivary flow rates was observed (P = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Responses to self-reported xerostomia questions reflects low unstimulated salivary flow rates. Thus, questions concerning dry mouth might be useful tools to identify HIV-infected individuals with hyposalivation, especially at a resting stage.
authors.affiliation: Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. wipawee.ni@psu.ac.th
authors.forename: Wipawee
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nittayananta
authors.forename: Nilnara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chanowanna
authors.forename: Nannapat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pruphetkaew
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nauntofte
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D057566:Self Report; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AIDS; HIV; dry mouth; hyposalivation; salivary flow rate; xerostomia