A preliminary study on submariners with xerostomia after a 3-month deployment

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a condition affecting salivary secretion.
• Submariners face unique environmental and psychological stressors during deployments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical manifestations and salivary secretion in submariners experiencing xerostomia after a three-month deployment.
• To identify factors associated with xerostomia in this population.

Main Methods:

• Clinical examination and screening of 136 submariners post-deployment.
• Measurement of unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates.
• Quantitative classification and statistical analysis of xerostomia-related factors.

Main Results:

• 42 submariners (30.9%) were diagnosed with xerostomia.
• 71.4% of diagnosed submariners exhibited decreased unstimulated salivary flow rate.
• Salivary reduction correlated significantly with accompanying symptoms and general condition.

Conclusions:

• Xerostomia in submariners is potentially linked to service duration and job demands.
• Key manifestations include reduced unstimulated saliva and symptoms like cheilosis and angular cheilitis.
• Psychological pressure and harsh living conditions warrant further investigation as contributing factors.