Biomedical subjects

Murali Srinivasan

Publications and source records attributed to Murali Srinivasan.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Global Prevalence of Dry Mouth in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to update prevalence estimates for xerostomia and salivary gland hypofunction (SGH) among older adults through a systematic review and meta-analysis. BACKGROUND: Dry mouth is common among older adults but is inconsistently assessed and reported. Xerostomia and SGH represent distinct conditions with different diagnostic approaches, leading to heterogeneity in prevalence estimates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search of Medline (PubMed) and Web of Science was conducted from January 2018 to March 2025. This was supplemented by manual backward citation tracking of the foundational review to identify all eligible pre-2018 epidemiological studies. Only studies utilizing population-representative samples of adults aged 50 years and older with defined diagnostic criteria were included. Risk of bias was formally assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool for Prevalence Studies. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analyses. (PROSPERO: CRD420251009592). RESULTS: A total of 37 studies-encompassing over 1.6 million participants-met the inclusion criteria. The pooled global prevalence of xerostomia among older adults was 21% (95% CI: 19%-23%). For SGH, the pooled prevalence measured via UWS was 12% (95% CI: 4%-24%), whereas SWS yielded a prevalence of 13% (95% CI: 3%-28%). High heterogeneity was observed across all analyses. Differences in diagnostic thresholds and saliva collection methods contributed to the observed variability. CONCLUSION: This updated meta-analysis confirms that xerostomia affects around one-fifth of older adults, while SGH is less common, depending on the diagnostic criteria used. Future research should focus on improving diagnostic consistency and sample representativeness to enable more consistent and robust estimates, and thereby better guide prevention and care in geriatric oral health.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Association of Social Support With Oral Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Social support is an important determinant of health in later life, yet no study has synthesised the relevant evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise evidence on the association between social support (functional, structural, and perceived dimensions) and oral health among older adults aged 75 years and over. METHODS: The review process, using a systematic approach and random-effects meta-analysis, was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Searches were carried out in Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL up to November 2025. Eligible studies examined associations between social support and oral health, including dentition status, oral conditions, oral function, oral health behaviours, and oral health-related quality of life. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Forty studies were included. Meta-analyses showed that low functional support-defined as having fewer people to rely on-was associated with edentulism (OR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.27) and non-regular dental service use (OR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.23). Low structural support, in terms of living conditions, was associated with edentulism and lacking functional dentition (OR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.75; and OR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.67, respectively). The evidence on the associations between low social support and other oral health measures was sparse and heterogeneous. CONCLUSION: Poor social support was associated with poor dentition status and oral health behaviours among older adults aged 75 years and over. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating psychosocial factors into oral health assessment and care planning for this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO; registration number: CRD420251231319.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Association of Socioeconomic Factors With Oral Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Oral diseases remain disproportionately prevalent among older adults. However, evidence on oral health inequalities among older adults remains dispersed across studies that have used different socioeconomic indicators and oral health measures and has not been synthesised. OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the evidence on the association between socioeconomic factors and oral health among older adults aged 75 years and older. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL databases were searched. Studies reporting socioeconomic factors (education, income, occupation, area-level deprivation, and multi-aspect socioeconomic position) and oral health (dentition status, dental caries, periodontal disease, dry mouth, oral function, oral health behaviours, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL)) among older adults were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Sixty-eight studies were included. Meta-analyses showed that socioeconomic disadvantage in older adults was associated with: (1) poor dentition status: fewer natural teeth, higher prevalence of edentulism, and lacking a functional dentition; (2) more teeth with decay; (3) irregular dental attendance; and (4) poorer OHRQoL. Similar patterns were generally observed for periodontal disease, dry mouth, and oral function, although no meta-analysis could be performed due to limited evidence and heterogeneous oral health measures. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic disadvantage was consistently associated with poor oral health in older adults. Associations were more pronounced for dentition status, reflecting the cumulative socioeconomic disadvantage over the life course. Socioeconomic factors should be considered to inform prevention, clinical decision-making and oral healthcare planning for the ageing population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Registration CRD420251231319.

Aged↗

PubMed2025

The Impact of Nutritional Status on Oral Health Outcomes and Management in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between nutritional status and the oral health of older adults (aged 75 years or older). The PECO focus question was, 'What is the occurrence, association and impact of nutritional state on the oral health outcomes and its management in older adults?' METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed across MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase and the Cochrane Library. Publications up to April 2025 were considered, yielding 3324 records for initial screening. Quality assessment of the included studies predominantly revealed a low to moderate risk of bias. RESULTS: Eighty-three studies were included for data analysis. Meta-analyses demonstrated that older adults at risk of malnutrition had fewer teeth (SMD = -0.29; 95% CI: -0.46, -0.11; p = 0.002). Those with < 20 teeth and who were not rehabilitated with dentures were more likely to be malnourished (OR = 4.00; 95% CI: 1.21, 13.18; p = 0.02). Malnutrition was associated with self-reported chewing problems (OR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.74, 3.26; p < 0.0001), swallowing problems (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 2.20, 4.61; p < 0.0001) or dry mouth (OR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.91, 2.88; p < 0.0001). Conversely, those with oral pain showed lower odds of malnutrition risk (OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.89; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Fewer teeth, existing chewing or swallowing problems, dry mouth and the absence of removable dentures where needed, were associated with malnutrition in care-dependent older adults. The current lack of longitudinal studies and proof of causality for malnutrition affecting oral health outcomes underscores the need for further research to better clarify the complex relationship between oral health and nutrition in older populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Registration: CRD420251003549.

Humans↗