[Xerostomia and its impact on oral health-related quality of life].
BACKGROUND
Dry mouth is a frequently occurrence in elderly people and causes numerous clinical and social problems.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the quality of life in geriatric patients living in nursing homes depending on the subjective sensation of dry mouth and associated oral parameters.


METHODS
A total of 62 male and female elderly patients living in 7 cooperating nursing homes were interviewed employing questionnaires with regard to their oral health-related quality of life (GOHAI) and their subjective perception of dry mouth (sXI-D). Dental status, drinking habits and current medication were documented.


RESULTS
The mean GOHAI score was 53.6 and the mean sXI-D score was 7.9. Oral health-related quality of life was significantly influenced by the subjective sensation of dry mouth (p < 0.001), whereas no significant impact of the number of residual teeth or implants or the character of prosthetic restorations could be identified. Xerostomia was significantly influenced by the number of medications consumed (p = 0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
Xerostomia has a significant impact on the oral health-related quality of life of elderly people living in nursing homes. Thus, dental treatment should focus on the alleviation of xerostomia to improve the oral health-related quality of life in the elderly population.
Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Deutschland.
Gianna
G
Herrmann
Zentrum für Klinische Studien, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Deutschland.
Karolina
K
Müller
Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Deutschland.
Michael
M
Behr
Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Deutschland.
Sebastian
S
Hahnel
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*
Cigarette smoking; Drinking behavior; Hyposalivation; Medication; Teeth/dental prosthesis