Assessment of Salivary Changes in Patients on Poly-pharmacy Medications: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Saliva is a biological fluid with multifactorial functional applications with regards to the maintenance of general health. Collection of saliva is non-invasive, easy and cost-effective. Xerostomia, a subjective sensation of dry mouth is one of the most common complaints in elderly and patients on polypharmacy as it is proven as a risk factor. Polypharmacy is the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a patient for more than one systemic disease. The aim of the study was to assess the salivary changes in patients on polypharmacy. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 20 individuals who reported to the Department of Special Care Dentistry at Saveetha Dental College between November to December 2019. The collected samples were then processed for analysis of three salivary parameters-Salivary glucose, amylase and pH. The data were recorded and statistically analyzed. Out of the 20 samples,12 male (60%) and 8 female(40%) with mean age group as 41.2 years. Independent t test showed statistically significant (p<0.05) values for salivary parameters in patients on polypharmacy medication. This study has shown a significant increase in salivary parameters and further studies relating the salivary changes, systemic disease and the medication involved salivary analysis can be suggested as one of the investigations in patients on polypharmacy.