PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer survivors suffer from xerostomia and sleep disturbances after radiotherapy, both of which affect their quality of life. This study aimed to explore the role of salivary flow in the oral health and sleep quality of head and neck cancer survivors.
METHODS: We recruited 120 head and neck cancer survivors who were experiencing symptoms of dry mouth or sleep disturbances post-radiotherapy from a dental clinic. We gathered their socio-demographic and clinical data, measured their salivary flow rate, and recorded their dry mouth score using the summated xerostomia inventory. Additionally, a dentist collected the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was employed to assess their sleep quality.
RESULTS: In this study, xerostomia was observed in nearly 80% of the cancer survivors. The concurrent prevalence of sleep disturbance and xerostomia was at 55%. After five years post-radiotherapy, there was a significant improvement observed in both the quality of sleep (p = 0.03) and the stimulated salivary flow rate (p = 0.04). Additionally, these improvements were noted to have commenced from the third year onwards. A significant association was found between stimulated salivary flow and dry mouth scores with poor sleep quality (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that dental professionals prioritize managing both dental and mental health issues equally for head and neck cancer survivors who have undergone radiotherapy within the past 3 years.
METHODS: We recruited 120 head and neck cancer survivors who were experiencing symptoms of dry mouth or sleep disturbances post-radiotherapy from a dental clinic. We gathered their socio-demographic and clinical data, measured their salivary flow rate, and recorded their dry mouth score using the summated xerostomia inventory. Additionally, a dentist collected the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was employed to assess their sleep quality.
RESULTS: In this study, xerostomia was observed in nearly 80% of the cancer survivors. The concurrent prevalence of sleep disturbance and xerostomia was at 55%. After five years post-radiotherapy, there was a significant improvement observed in both the quality of sleep (p = 0.03) and the stimulated salivary flow rate (p = 0.04). Additionally, these improvements were noted to have commenced from the third year onwards. A significant association was found between stimulated salivary flow and dry mouth scores with poor sleep quality (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that dental professionals prioritize managing both dental and mental health issues equally for head and neck cancer survivors who have undergone radiotherapy within the past 3 years.
摘要：
背景：头颈部癌症幸存者在放疗后患有口干症和睡眠障碍，两者都会影响他们的生活质量。本研究旨在探讨唾液流在头颈部癌症幸存者口腔健康和睡眠质量中的作用。
方法：我们从牙科诊所招募了120名头颈部癌症幸存者，他们在放疗后出现口干或睡眠障碍的症状。我们收集了他们的社会人口统计学和临床数据，测量了他们的唾液流速，并使用汇总的口干症清单记录他们的口干评分。此外,一位牙医收集了DMFT(腐烂的，失踪，和填充牙齿）索引。匹兹堡睡眠质量指数被用来评估他们的睡眠质量。
结果：在这项研究中，在近80％的癌症幸存者中观察到口干症。睡眠障碍和口干症的并发患病率为55％。放疗后五年,睡眠质量(p=0.03)和刺激唾液流速(p=0.04)均有显著改善.此外,据指出，这些改善从第三年开始。发现刺激唾液流量和口干评分与睡眠质量差之间存在显着相关性（p<0.05）。
结论：我们建议牙科专业人员优先考虑在过去3年内接受过放疗的头颈部癌症幸存者的牙科和心理健康问题。
方法：我们从牙科诊所招募了120名头颈部癌症幸存者，他们在放疗后出现口干或睡眠障碍的症状。我们收集了他们的社会人口统计学和临床数据，测量了他们的唾液流速，并使用汇总的口干症清单记录他们的口干评分。此外,一位牙医收集了DMFT(腐烂的，失踪，和填充牙齿）索引。匹兹堡睡眠质量指数被用来评估他们的睡眠质量。
结果：在这项研究中，在近80％的癌症幸存者中观察到口干症。睡眠障碍和口干症的并发患病率为55％。放疗后五年,睡眠质量(p=0.03)和刺激唾液流速(p=0.04)均有显著改善.此外,据指出，这些改善从第三年开始。发现刺激唾液流量和口干评分与睡眠质量差之间存在显着相关性（p<0.05）。
结论：我们建议牙科专业人员优先考虑在过去3年内接受过放疗的头颈部癌症幸存者的牙科和心理健康问题。
