Exploring the potential factors of burning mouth syndrome in elderly people: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) remains a clinical challenge because of the unclear and multifactorial nature of its etiopathogenesis. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and potential factors involved in the occurrence of BMS in older adults. Materials and Methods: Data from 365 individuals attending healthcare services in Manaus, Brazil, were analyzed. Clinical evaluation was conducted by a single calibrated examiner. Sociodemographic aspects, health conditions, medication use, smoking habits, need for dental prostheses, presence of xerostomia, and reports of BMS were also evaluated. The chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, G-test, binary logistic regression, and odds ratios were used to estimate the occurrence of BMS based on the independent variables. Results: The prevalence rate of BMS was 4.9%. In univariate analyses, BMS was significantly associated with race (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.013), systemic arterial hypertension (p = 0.024), and xerostomia (p = 0.005). In the binary logistic regression model, BMS was significantly associated with race (p = 0.031), with white participants having a 7.3 times higher risk of BMS than multiracial participants (OR = 7.3; 95% CI: 2.4-22.1). Binary logistic regression also showed that xerostomia was significantly associated with BMS (p = 0.019), increasing the risk by 3.8 times (OR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.2-11.8). Conclusions: Race and xerostomia were associated with BMS in older adults. These findings may help clinicians refine and tailor treatment strategies within a personalized care approach for this population.