A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Global Prevalence of Dry Mouth in Older Adults.

GerodontologyMay 17, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchGeriatricsOpen access

Porawit Kamnoedboon, Foteini Spyraki, W Murray Thomson et al.

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the global prevalence of xerostomia and salivary gland hypofunction (SGH) in older adults. Analyzing 37 studies with over 1.6 million participants, the study found that the pooled prevalence of xerostomia was 21% (95% CI: 19%-23%), while SGH prevalence varied between 12% and 13% depending on diagnostic methods.

Key findings

  • The pooled prevalence of xerostomia among older adults was 21% (95% CI: 19%-23%).
  • The prevalence of SGH measured via unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) was 12% (95% CI: 4%-24%).
  • The prevalence of SGH measured via stimulated whole saliva (SWS) was 13% (95% CI: 3%-28%).
  • High heterogeneity was observed across all analyses due to varying diagnostic thresholds.

Why it matters

Understanding the prevalence of xerostomia and SGH in older adults is crucial for clinicians to identify and manage these conditions effectively, which can significantly impact oral health and quality of life.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42144904Free full text on PubMed Central

Published in Gerodontology. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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