Abstract
BackgroundPerimenopausal women experience a wide variety of systemic symptoms: hot flashes, sweating, mental health concerns and various oral sensory complaints (OSC). OSC in perimenopausal women include xerostomia, taste disturbance and burning mouth. However, the factors associated with these OSC have not been identified. The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the factors associated with OSC in perimenopausal women.MethodsThe study cohort comprised 43 perimenopausal women aged 45–55 years. Data on medical history, medications, menstrual status, menopausal symptoms, quality of life, xerostomia, taste disturbance and burning mouth were collected. Volumes of unstimulated and stimulated saliva were measured. Tongue coating was evaluated according to a tongue coating index. Univariate analysis was performed to identify factors significantly associated with having xerostomia, taste disturbance, burning mouth and more than two OSC (2OSC). Next, the factors strongly associated with these symptoms were examined by logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe number of menopausal symptoms was significantly higher, and volume of unstimulated saliva was significantly lower in participants with xerostomia, taste disturbance, burning mouth or 2OSC than in those without these characteristics. Agents targeting the central nervous system were more frequently taken by participants with burning mouth and 2OSC than by those without these characteristics. According to logistic regression analysis, the number of menopausal symptoms was an explanatory variable for xerostomia, taste disturbance, burning mouth and 2OSC.ConclusionsOur findings suggested that OSC associated with the number of menopausal symptoms. Management of menopausal symptoms may decrease OSC, leading to improved quality of life of perimenopausal women.
Highlights
Perimenopausal women experience a wide variety of systemic symptoms: hot flashes, sweating, mental health concerns and various oral sensory complaints (OSC)
During perimenopausal period, many women experience a wide variety of systemic symptoms, including symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating, mental health concerns, and mucocutaneous symptoms, all of which can markedly decrease their quality of life (QOL)
Agents targeting the central nervous system were more frequently taken by participants with burning mouth and 2OSC than by those without these characteristics (p = 0.014 and p = 0.003, respectively)
Summary
Perimenopausal women experience a wide variety of systemic symptoms: hot flashes, sweating, mental health concerns and various oral sensory complaints (OSC). OSC in perimenopausal women include xerostomia, taste disturbance and burning mouth. Many women experience a wide variety of systemic symptoms, including symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating, mental health concerns, and mucocutaneous symptoms, all of which can markedly decrease their quality of life (QOL). Burning mouth syndrome is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as a burning pain in the tongue and/or other oral mucous membranes in the absence of clinical signs and abnormal laboratory findings [7]. In one study 79.5% of physicians and gynecologists reported encountering the complaints xerostomia, taste disturbance, burning mouth or temporomandibular disorders [9]. The remaining women potentially failed to receive appropriate medical care
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