Relationship between dry mouth and hypertension

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Pathology
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Salivary dysfunction, characterized by reduced flow and altered composition, stems from various diseases, conditions, and medications.
• Understanding the impact of systemic conditions like hypertension on salivary glands is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between hypertension and morphological alterations in the submandibular glands.
• To elucidate the connection between hypertension and the prevalence of dry mouth.

Main Methods:

• An epidemiological study involving 1933 subjects was conducted to assess the prevalence of dry mouth.
• Histopathological analysis examined submandibular gland morphology and arterial intima thickness in relation to hypertension.
• Multivariate analysis identified factors associated with dry mouth, including hypertension.

Main Results:

• Dry mouth was present in 8.0% of the study population and correlated significantly with age, sex, and hypertension.
• While submandibular gland size did not differ, patients with hypertension exhibited a smaller average acinar cell area.
• Hypertensive patients showed a significantly higher arteriosclerotic index, indicating increased arterial stenosis in the submandibular glands.

Conclusions:

• Hypertension may contribute to submandibular gland degeneration through reduced acinar cell count and increased fatty infiltration.
• Arterial stenosis in the submandibular glands is more pronounced in individuals with hypertension.
• These findings suggest a pathological link between hypertension and salivary gland dysfunction.