Abstract
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Facial pain seems to be related to physiological responses to stress and sexual dimorphism. However, the relationship among facial pain, cortisol secretion and gender has been poorly investigated. This study aimed to investigate differences in morning salivary cortisol profile between males and females either with or without perceived facial pain symptoms. METHODS: Participated in the study 39 individuals reporting facial pain and 33 painless controls of both genders. Facial pain symptoms were evaluated with Axis II Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, which has supplied chronic pain scores. Saliva was collected in the morning to obtain cortisol peaks, being stored for further use. Salivary cortisol levels were evaluated by immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis has included hypotheses tests and ANOVA with significance level of 5% and a binary logistic regression, which has tested the association between gender, cortisol and each facial pain symptom. RESULTS: There has been no association between facial pain and gender. Cortisol levels were similar among individuals with and without facial pain, regardless of gender. The adjusted model has shown that most symptoms were not associated to gender, regardless of cortisol levels. CONCLUSION: In individuals with and without facial pain symptoms, morning salivary cortisol levels regulation has been similar for both genders.
Highlights
Facial pain has been commonly associated with a multifactorial scenario that includes musculoskeletal disorders, biomechanical unbalances of the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory system, or pre-existing pain conditions triggering several orofacial symptoms[1,2,3,4]
This study was aimed at investigating whether morning salivary cortisol profiles would be affected by sexual dimorphism in individuals reporting facial pain symptomatology
Similar values were observed for men and women, regardless of the presence of pain. When considering both facial pain and the control group, there has been a trend for higher cortisol means in female as compared to male participants, the difference did not reach significance (p=0.05)
Summary
Facial pain has been commonly associated with a multifactorial scenario that includes musculoskeletal disorders, biomechanical unbalances of the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory system, or pre-existing pain conditions triggering several orofacial symptoms[1,2,3,4]. Recent but limited data found no association between distress, psychological factors and cortisol levels in women with TMD and facial pain[17,18]. This study was aimed at investigating whether morning salivary cortisol profiles would be affected by sexual dimorphism in individuals reporting facial pain symptomatology. This study aimed to investigate differences in morning salivary cortisol profile between males and females either with or without perceived facial pain symptoms. Statistical analysis has included hypotheses tests and ANOVA with significance level of 5% and a binary logistic regression, which has tested the association between gender, cortisol and each facial pain symptom. Cortisol levels were similar among individuals with and without facial pain, regardless of gender. CONCLUSION: In individuals with and without facial pain symptoms, morning salivary cortisol levels regulation has been similar for both genders.
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