Objective
To evaluate the intensity of pain and levels of disability at different times through the day in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) over a 14‐day period.
Methods
This was a prospective clinical study of 30 patients with BMS, 26 of whom completed the study. The parameters studied were pain intensity (using a visual analog scale), Disability Index (in the morning, afternoon and night), quality of life (using the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD).
Results
Mean pain was 5.1 ± 1.8 and disability was 2.09 ± 1.40. There were significant differences between the three pain measurements taken at different times of day: between morning and afternoon (P ≤ 0.001), morning and evening (P ≤ 0.001), and afternoon and evening (P ≤ 0.001). Regression analysis found that the mean Pain Disability Index (R2 corrected = 0.329; F = 3.44; P = 0.02) was also affected by anxiety (P = 0.036).
Conclusion
Pain and disability increase as the day progresses in patients with BMS, and are influenced by anxiety. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 490–495.