Prevalence and Associations of Xerostomia in Older Adults in Southern Brazil.

Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence and associations of xerostomia in older adults in southern Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Pelotas, Brazil, during 2014. A representative sample of the city's older adult population (60+) was selected. The dependent variable was self-reported feeling of dry mouth in the past 6 months. Covariates included socio-economic status, schooling, gender, age, tobacco and alcohol consumption, polypharmacy, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, depression, dentition status and use of removable dental prostheses. Descriptive analysis was carried out, and Poisson regression was used to obtain prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Analyses used STATA 15.1.

Results: Most of the 1451 participants were female (63.3%). The prevalence of xerostomia was 36.7% (95% CI 34.3-39.1). Adjusted analysis showed that xerostomia was significantly more common among females (PR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22-1.74), those with less schooling (PR 1.31, 95% CI 1.10-1.51), those exposed to polypharmacy (PR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.37), people with arthritis (PR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.61) and those with depression symptoms (PR 1.45, 95% CI 1.23-1.70).

Conclusion: Xerostomia is common among older adults. Health workers need to pay attention to its associated factors for early identification and promotion of appropriate interventions, particularly the rational use of medicines.