RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effect of Xerostomia on the Functional Capacity of Subjects with Rheumatoid Arthritis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 1795
OP 1800
DO 10.3899/jrheum.151211
VO 43
IS 10
A1 Marília Lins e Silva
A1 Camila Nunes Carvalho
A1 Alessandra de Albuquerque Tavares Carvalho
A1 Jair Carneiro Leão
A1 Angela Luzia Pinto Duarte
A1 Luiz Alcino Gueiros
YR 2016
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/43/10/1795.abstract
AB Objective. To evaluate the intensity of xerostomia and hyposalivation in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as the effects of these conditions on functional incapacity and disease activity.Methods. The study sample comprised 236 individuals of both sexes who had RA. All the individuals were submitted to clinical evaluation and unstimulated sialometry. Functional capacity was determined by using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), xerostomia was assessed using the Xerostomia Inventory, and disease activity was evaluated with the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). The effect of Sjögren syndrome (SS) was analyzed, and the sample was divided into 2 groups: RA (191 subjects) and RA/SS (45 subjects).Results. The Xerostomia Inventory showed positive and significant correlation with fatigue (r = 0.243; p < 0.0001), number of painful joints (r = 0.218; p = 0.001), HAQ (r = 0.279; p < 0.0001), and DAS28 (r = 0.156; p < 0.0001). On regression analysis, both xerostomia (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.84–8.23, p < 0.001) and DAS28 (for severe disease activity: OR 13.26, 95% CI 3.15–55.79, p < 0.001) showed influence on functional incapacity. Forty-five individuals (19.1%) presented with secondary SS, and having this diagnosis was not associated with disease activity or functional capacity.Conclusion. Xerostomia demonstrated an adverse effect on quality of life of subjects with RA, being associated with a reduction in functional capacity. In this clinical setting, xerostomia can be monitored as a marker of worse clinical evolution.