Study participants original dataset.

Xerostomia is a subjective condition of dryness of the oral cavity that may lead to several oral problems deteriorating oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of xerostomia, (2) compare the general health status, unstimulated salivary flow rate, and oral health-related quality of life in xerostomics and non-xerostomics, and (3) investigate the potential of salivary aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) as a screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease. Demographics and systemic health data were collected from 109 healthy participants, 20 to 55 years old, with Community Periodontal Index (CPI) score ≥ 3. For subjective assessment of xerostomia, Shortened Xerostomia Inventory (SXI) was used. For objective assessment of xerostomia, unstimulated salivary flow rate was measured. Shortened Oral Health Impact Profile (S-OHIP) was utilized for oral health-related quality of life assessment. The collected saliva samples were processed and stored at −80°C. Quantification of salivary AQP-3 protein was done with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Xerostomia was reported in 78% of the subjects based on SXI score. Median concentration of AQP-3 was significantly higher in xerostomics compared to non-xerostomics, p = 0.001. Moreover, oral health-related quality of life was significantly poor in xerostomics compared to non-xerostomics, p = 0.002. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between AQP-3 and SXI (r = 0.21, p = 0.025), AQP-3 and S-OHIP (r = 0.2, p = 0.042), S-OHIP and SXI (r = 0.37, p < 0.001), unstimulated salivary flow rate and random blood glucose level (r = 0.32, p = 0.001), and body mass index and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that body mass index, CPI score 3, and salivary AQP-3 were suitable predictors for presence of xerostomia. AQP-3 could be a potential screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease for its early identification may help improve oral health-related quality of life of the individuals.

口干症（Xerostomia）是一种主观的口腔干燥状态，可引发多种口腔问题，进而损害与口腔健康相关的生活质量。本研究旨在达成以下目标：（1）明确口干症的患病率；（2）对比口干症患者与非口干症患者的全身健康状况、非刺激性唾液流率以及与口腔健康相关的生活质量；（3）探究唾液水通道蛋白3（AQP-3）作为牙周病患者口干症筛查生物标志物的潜力。本研究纳入109名年龄介于20至55岁、社区牙周指数（CPI）评分≥3的健康受试者，收集其人口统计学资料与全身健康数据。针对口干症的主观评估，本研究采用简化口干问卷（SXI）；客观评估则通过检测非刺激性唾液流率完成。同时，使用简化口腔健康影响程度量表（S-OHIP）对与口腔健康相关的生活质量进行评估。采集得到的唾液样本经处理后，于-80℃环境下保存；采用酶联免疫吸附试验对唾液AQP-3蛋白进行定量检测。基于SXI评分，78%的受试者报告存在口干症。口干症患者的唾液AQP-3中位数浓度显著高于非口干症患者（p=0.001）。此外，口干症患者的与口腔健康相关的生活质量显著劣于非口干症患者（p=0.002）。进一步的相关性分析显示，AQP-3与SXI评分呈显著正相关（r=0.21，p=0.025），AQP-3与S-OHIP评分呈显著正相关（r=0.20，p=0.042），S-OHIP与SXI评分呈显著正相关（r=0.37，p<0.001）；非刺激性唾液流率与随机血糖水平呈显著正相关（r=0.32，p=0.001）；体重指数与平均动脉压呈显著正相关（r=0.44，p<0.001）。回归分析结果表明，体重指数、CPI评分3级以及唾液AQP-3均可作为口干症发生的有效预测因子。由于早期识别口干症有助于改善个体的口腔健康相关生活质量，因此AQP-3有望成为牙周病患者口干症的潜在筛查生物标志物。