Changes in Salivary Flow in the Elderly: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the association of alcoholism, smoking habits, and daily practices on the salivary flow of 220 elderly Brazilians, between 65 and 74 years of age. Materials and methods: This is an exploratory, analytical, quantitative study. Subjects were selected through proportional stratified sampling. The stimulated salivary flow was measured by the Navazesh method. To assess alcohol dependence and smoking, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Questionnaire of Smoking Urges Brief (QSU-B) questionnaires were used, respectively. Data were analyzed using STATA software, using Pearson's chi-square test, and logistic regression. Results: The mean age was 69.9, the majority were women (59%), of brown ethnicity (55.9%), with up to 8 years of schooling (62.7%), income of up to a minimum wage (46.4%) and married (62.3%). There was a prevalence of 43.2% of individuals with hyposalivation, mostly aged 70 to 74 years old. There was an association between reduced salivary flow and elderly people who ingested less liquid and with those who brushed their teeth less frequently. The variables age, sex, fluid intake and craving for smoking explained, on average, 43% of the occurrences of hyposalivation in the studied population. Conclusion: Elderly women, aged 70 and over, who drink a small amount of liquids during the day, are more susceptible to hyposalivation and need to be monitored more closely by the health team involved. Clinical relevance: Hyposalivation in the elderly can impact their quality of life, therefore the present study is important to understand some factors that may worsen this condition.