Research on association between dry mouth and digestive diseases and role as a clinical predictor

在老年人中，口腔干燥及其相关疾病如灼口、恶心等越来越多，胃食管反流病（GERD）和非糜烂性反流病（NERD）也越来越多。本研究旨在探讨老年人口腔干燥相关疾病与胃食管反流（GERD/NERD）等消化系统疾病的关系。我们的调查项目是口腔检查，包括舌头和吞咽功能。结果显示，60%的GERD/NERD患者有口腔干燥，25%的人有口腔灼烧和恶心。有口腔干燥的老年人发生GERD/NERD的风险约为无口腔干燥老年人的5倍（优势比为4.8,95%可信区间为1.1 -21.0）。此外，口腔干燥与胃肠功能低下、口腔灼烧/恶心与胃肠反流之间存在显著关联。这些发现提示牙科医生需要了解口腔干燥与消化系统疾病的关系，并促进医牙合作。

Oral dryness and its related diseases including burning mouth and disgeusia is being increasing among the elderly, while gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) is also increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between oral dryness-related diseases and digestive diseases such as GERD/NERD in the elderly individuals of care houses and senior college. Our items of the survey were oral examination including tongue and swallowing function. The results showed that the 60% of individuals with GERD/NERD had oral dryness, and 25% of the individuals had burning mouth and disgeusia. The elderly with oral dryness had higher risk of GERD/NERD approximately 5 times than those without oral dryness (Odds ratio, 4.8, 95% Confidence Intervals, 1.1 -21.0). Furthermore, there were significant associations between oral dryness and gastrointestinal hypomotility, and between burning mouth/disguesia and gastrointestinal reflux. These findings suggest that dental practitioners need to know the association between oral dryness and digestive diseases, and also promote the medical-dental cooperation.