Prevalence of xerostomia and its determinants among dental patients in Kabul, Afghanistan

Background Xerostomia or dry mouth is a condition which impairs oral function and quality which is influenced by systemic conditions, medication use, and behaviours. Evidence regarding its epidemiology in Afghanistan is scarce. This study estimated the prevalence of xerostomia and its associated risk factors among dental patients in Kabul, Afghanistan. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted at a public teaching hospital and one large private dental clinic in Kabul between Mar.2021 to Mar.2022. A convenience sampling method used to recruit adult patients. Trained interviewers collected data on the prevalence of xerostomia and other risk factors using structured questionnaires. Xerostomia was defined as a self-reported subjective sensation of oral dryness. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine the prevalence and associated risk factors. Results Of 1,948 participants (56.9% female; mean age 28.6 years), 20.3% reported xerostomia. In multivariable analyses, xerostomia was associated with gastric diseases (AOR 2.6; 95% CI: 2.1–3.4), continuous medication use (AOR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.8–3.3), and bruxism (AOR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2–2.2). Several dietary behaviours such us sometimes consuming sweets (AOR 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.9), sometimes consuming citric foods (AOR 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5–0.8), and usual consumption of beverages (AOR 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4–0.9) showed inverse associations. Age, sex, education, wealth, and snack consumption were not significantly associated after adjustment. Conclusion Overall, one in five dental patients in Kabul reported xerostomia. Strongest determinants were gastric disease, ongoing medication use, and bruxism. Routine screening for xerostomia in particularly among patients with gastrointestinal conditions, those on long-term medications, or with bruxism, and counselling on modifiable behaviours may help identify at-risk patients and guide management in resource limited contexts.