Aim and background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic disease characterized by burning oral sensations without any identifiable cause.This study investigates the clinical characteristics, psychological impact, and associations between hormonal changes and mental health in postmenopausal women.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional, case-control study was conducted at a level three hospital in outpatient clinics.The study included 256 postmenopausal women, including 94 with BMS and 120 controls.Data on symptom severity, psychological distress, and quality of life were sourced through structured questionnaires.Multivariate logistic regression was performed to describe the predictors of BMS severity and psychological distress.Results: The prevalence of BMS was 36.7%.The tongue was the most commonly affected site (62.8%).Dominant symptoms included moderate to severe burning pain (67.0%).Common aggravating factors were stress (74.5%), dry mouth (58.5%), and hot/spicy food (50.0%).Burning mouth syndrome patients exhibited greater stress than controls (p < 0.001) and inferior quality of life (p < 0.001).Hormonal changes and psychological stress were significant predictors of BMS, while hormone replacement therapy was not associated with BMS. Conclusion:Burning mouth syndrome has a high prevalence in postmenopausal women and a significant effect on quality of life.Such a multidisciplinary approach with gynecological, neurological, and psychological care may help optimize patient outcomes.Clinical significance: Enhancing awareness and implementing multidisciplinary management strategies can facilitate early diagnosis and improve the quality of life in BMS.
Gupta et al. (Fri,) studied this question.