Association between xerostomia and oral health-related quality of life of older adults

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of xerostomia, the subjective perception of dry mouth, on the oral health-related quality of life of older adults. Methods: This study involved 131 individuals who participated in the AcampaVida extension project between 2015 and 2018 in the city of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A structured questionnaire obtained demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and self-reported information about xerostomia. Also, the Brazilian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was used to assess oral health-related quality of life. Data were analyzed in STATA 14.0, and the association of xerostomia with predictive quality of life variables was performed using unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression. Results: OHIP-14 scores were 28% higher in individuals with xerostomia. Regarding the questionnaire domains, the highest scores comprised physical pain and psychological discomfort in individuals with xerostomia. Conclusion: The results indicate that xerostomia had a negative impact on the oral health-related quality of life of the assessed older adults.