Research Article: Reliable assessment of oral dryness in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus using the Romanian version of the Summated Xerostomia Inventory
Abstract:
Xerostomia is a common oral manifestation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may reflect alterations in salivary gland function associated with chronic metabolic dysregulation. Oral dryness can negatively affect mastication, speech, oral comfort, and quality of life, highlighting the need for reliable patient-reported assessment tools. This study aimed to assess xerostomia in adults with T2DM and to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Romanian version of the Summated Xerostomia Inventory (SXI).
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 132 adults with T2DM recruited from a tertiary diabetes outpatient center in Romania. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation followed COSMIN recommendations. Participants completed the Romanian SXI, a global xerostomia question, and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for oral dryness. Unstimulated whole salivary flow rate (UWSFR) was additionally measured. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, concurrent validity, convergent validity, and feasibility were evaluated.
The mean SXI score was 9.58?±?3.82. Xerogenic medication use was reported by 87.1% of participants, while hyposalivation was identified in 9.1%. Xerostomia-related manifestations included oral burning sensation (21.2%), speech difficulties associated with oral dryness (20.5%), and suspected sleep apnea or habitual snoring (26.5%). The Romanian SXI demonstrated excellent psychometric performance, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's ? =?0.90), corrected item–total correlations ranging from 0.56 to 0.86, and excellent test–retest reliability (ICC?=?0.975). Mean SXI scores increased significantly across xerostomia severity categories ( p <?0.001), and a very strong positive correlation was observed between SXI and VAS scores (Spearman's r =?0.93, p <?0.001). No significant floor or ceiling effects were detected.
Xerostomia-related symptoms were common among adults with T2DM, supporting the importance of routine assessment of oral dryness in diabetes care. The Romanian version of the SXI demonstrated excellent validity, reliability, and feasibility and provides a practical instrument for the evaluation and monitoring of xerostomia in Romanian-speaking adults with T2DM. Beyond its application in diabetes care, the Romanian SXI may facilitate the assessment of xerostomia in other populations affected by salivary gland dysfunction, supporting future clinical practice, epidemiological research, and cross-cultural studies in Romanian-speaking populations.
Introduction:
Xerostomia is a common oral manifestation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may reflect alterations in salivary gland function associated with chronic metabolic dysregulation. Oral dryness can negatively affect mastication, speech, oral comfort, and quality of life, highlighting the need for reliable patient-reported assessment tools. This study aimed to assess xerostomia in adults with T2DM and to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Romanian version of the Summated Xerostomia Inventory (SXI).
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