Analysis of medication-induced xerostomia in elderly Japanese patients

OBJECTIVES: To determine the general condition of elderly xerostomia patients, we collected their background and medication data in order to potentially treat their xerostomia. It is critical to identify the drugs causing xerostomia in elderly patients. A total of 521 patients who were examined at the Xerostomia Clinic of Osaka University Dental Hospital were included in the study. We obtained patients’ data on age, sex, number of primary illnesses, Saxon test scores, oral moisture test, subjective symptoms, and drug types from their clinical records. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 65.2 ± 13.3 years. Although all patients exhibited xerostomia symptoms, there were a lot of patients without hyposalivation. With respect to medication, each elderly xerostomia patient took an average of 6.8 ± 4.4 medicines. A total of 26.1% of patients in their 70 s took more than ten number of drugs. In addition, the number of frequently used medication medicine was different between elderly and young patients. Most of the medicines had xerostomia as a side effect in medical package inserts. Moreover, the quantity of salivation significantly decreased in patients who took more than seven drugs in comparison with the patients who did not take medicine. CONCLUSIONS: As patients age, the number of medications they take tends to increase, subsequently increasing their risk of xerostomia. For the health of the patients, it is critical that an accurate diagnosis is made. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To establish therapeutic strategies for treatment of xerostomia, this study provides new and important information that will help in the development of xerostomia medical treatment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00784-021-04182-2.