Assessment of xerostomia in general population: A questionnaire study as a screening tool for hyposalivation

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess xerostomia in the general population using a questionnaire and to evaluate its accuracy as a screening tool for detecting hyposalivation. Material and Methods: A diagnostic study involving 173 participants aged 36 years and above was conducted using a validated xerostomia questionnaire. Salivary flow was measured by sialometry after stimulating saliva with paraffin. A flow rate of < 0.7 mL/min indicated hyposalivation. The questionnaire’s reliability was tested using the Kappa statistic and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, while accuracy was evaluated using Spearman’s correlation and the Mann–Whitney test. Results: Out of 200 individuals approached, 173 participants were included (mean age: 56.32 years; 43.9% female and 56.1% male). Significant associations were found between questionnaire responses and clinically confirmed hyposalivation (P < 0.05). Key symptoms such as dry mouth during meals, difficulty swallowing, and dry mouth at night were strongly linked to reduced salivary flow. Conditions such as diabetes and hypertension also showed significant correlations. Conclusion: The xerostomia questionnaire proved to be a reliable and effective tool for screening hyposalivation in the general population. It can be integrated into routine healthcare practice to detect at-risk individuals, especially those with systemic conditions