title: Association of salivary gland hypofunction with diabetes mellitus and drugs among the elderly in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies from Pakistan on salivary dysfunction are lacking, and the Pakistani elderly population is rapidly growing. Among the most common problems in the elderly that could have a deleterious impact on their quality of life are salivary gland hypofunction (SGH), diabetes mellitus (DM), and the intake of drugs with adverse effects on salivary function. In the present study, we aimed to find the association of SGH with DM and drugs among the elderly in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The inclusion criterion was affirmative answers to a series of standardized questions related to the symptoms of dry mouth. A total of 110 individuals were selected from a convenience sample of 200 people aged between 60 and 70 years. Diabetes, drug use, and SGH in the participants were determined by detailed medical and drug history, clinical examination, and sialometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar to their international counterparts, the majority of the study participants demonstrated objective evidence of SGH. More importantly SGH was found to be statistically significant with respect to DM and medication (P < 0.05). For participants on medication, the minimum and maximum salivary flow rates were found to be 0.09 mL/min and 0.3 ml/min, respectively, whereas the minimum and maximum salivary flow rates in diabetic participants were 0.01 mL/min and 0.09 mL/min, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, the majority of elderly participants whose presenting complaint was oral dryness was found to have objective evidence of SGH, with a statistically-significant association with DM and drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Dow International Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muneeb Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lone
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2353-3817
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Maham Muneeb
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lone
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Dow International Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ashar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afaq
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohid Abrar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications*
keywords: diabetes mellitus; dry mouth; oral dryness; salivary dysfunction; salivary gland hypofunction