Salivary secretion and drug treatment in four 70-year-old Swedish cohorts during a period of 30 years

• Objective The aim was to examine the association between drug treatment and unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva in four 70-year-old Swedish cohorts, between 1971 and 2001. Background Both diseases and their medication can affect the salivary secretion rate. Materials and methods The study was based on selected samples of four cohorts born in 1901/1902, 1906/1907, 1911/1912 and 1930/1931, respectively, a total of 1072 individuals. The response rate varied between 65% and 85%. Results The mean value for the stimulated salivary secretion rate was higher in men (1.30.8ml/min) than in women (1.0 +/- 0.7ml/min) (p<0.001)). There was a significant association between the salivary secretion rate and the number of drugs among both women (p<0.01) and men (p<0.001). This influence was most pronounced in participants who were treated with cardiovascular drugs, mainly diuretics and non-selective -adrenoceptor blockers, but also with antipsychotics and antidepressants, even when adjusted for cohort, gender, number of teeth and other drugs. There was an increase in treatment with medicines during the three decades. Conclusion In these four groups of 70-year-old participants, high drug consumption was associated with lower salivary flow. Unstimulated secretion was only affected in women and then, when taking four or more drugs. Pronounced hyposalivation was, however, uncommon. Cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants and antipsychotics were associated with low salivary secretion. In this age group, the frequently observed association between polypharmacy and a lower saliva secretion rate represents a risk of impaired dental health.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Keyword

elderly

epidemiology

medication

population study

stimulated and unstimulated saliva

DRY MOUTH

GENERAL PRESENTATION

WHOLE SALIVA

AGE-GROUPS

POPULATION

PREVALENCE

PEOPLE

HEALTH

FLOW

HYPOSALIVATION

Dentistry

Oral Surgery & Medicine

Geriatrics & Gerontology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)