title: The Relationship Between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Clinical Features in Burning Mouth Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and their relationship with pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  75 BMS patients were enrolled.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted between September 2011 and March 2012 at the "Federico II" University of Naples. Demographic characteristics and clinical information including age, sex, educational level, marital status, job status, age at disease onset, oral symptoms, and triggers were collected via questionnaire interviews. To assess pain intensity the visual analogue scale (VAS) was administered. Descriptive statistics were collected, and Pearson Chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric tests and the Spearman bivariate correlation were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 61.17 (±11.75, female/male ratio = 3:1). The mean age at disease onset was 56.75 (±12.01). A low educational level (8.57 ± 4.95) and 80% of unemployment were found. Job status and age at disease onset correlated with the VAS scale (P = 0.019 and P = 0.015, respectively). Tongue morphology changes, taste disturbances, and intraoral foreign body sensation have a significant dependence on gender (P = 0.049, 0.001, and 0.045, respectively); intraoral foreign body sensation has a significant dependence on marital status (P = 0.033); taste disturbances have a significant dependence on job status. (P = 0.049); xerostomia has a significant dependence on age (P = 0.039); and tongue color changes and a bitter taste have a significant dependence on educational level (P = 0.040 and 0.022, respectively). Marital status and educational level have a significant dependence on the triggers (P = 0.036 and 0.049, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of BMS is higher in women, and in married, unemployed, and less highly educated patients. Burning is the most frequent symptom while stressful life events are the most frequent trigger reported.
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Adamo
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Celentano
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences.
authors: Elvira
authors: E
authors: Ruoppo
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Cucciniello
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Pecoraro
authors: Department of Economics and Statistics, University Federico II of Naples.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Aria
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences.
authors: Michele D
authors: MD
authors: Mignogna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burning Mouth Syndrome; Educational Level; Gender; Oral Burning; Oral Pain; Sociodemographic Factors