Assessment of oral physiological changes in renal dialysis patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Oral Mechanism of Thirst - The relationship between thirst and oral physiological changes in renal dialysis patients
IRAS ID
223021
Contact name
Guy Carpenter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London, Vice President & Vice Principal (Research)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Thirst and dry mouth are the two most common complaints among renal dialysis patients (Bots et al., 2004, Bots et al., 2005, Masajtis-Zagajewska and Nowicki, 2009, Bossola and Tazza, 2012). The prevalence of thirst in patients on haemodialysis ranges from 30.9 to 95.0% (Kara, 2016) while dry mouth ranges from 28.2 to 66.7% (Bossola and Tazza, 2012). Past studies have observed a significant decrease in salivary flow in renal dialysis patients (Kho et al., 1999, Postorino et al., 2003, Martins et al., 2006, Tomás et al., 2008). However, inducing saliva production in these patients by drinking water or chewing gums is not a satisfactory thirst-quenching alternative (Jagodzinska et al., 2011). Because of uncontrolled thirst (Masajtis-Zagajewska and Nowicki, 2009), their urge to drink more water have become more persistent. Their urge to drink more water can be affected by several factors such as dry mouth, sodium intake, increase plasma sodium, potassium depletion, angiotensin II, acute rise in plasma urea and post-dialysis hypovolemia (Bots et al., 2004, Masajtis-Zagajewska and Nowicki, 2009). Bot et al. (2004) used dialysis thirst inventory to observe thirst in patients on dialysis and about 40% reported thirst as a problem (Bots et al., 2004).
This study aims to assess thirst and physiological changes in the mouth of renal dialysis patients when compared to healthy controls. It is a cross-sectional study, single approach. Healthy subject and renal dialysis patients will be approached to complete questionnaires and give saliva and finger prick blood samples.
The study will be carried out at Guy’s and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Potential volunteers will be given written information about the study and time to consider participation. Informed consent will be obtained if they are interested in taking part in the study.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0029
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion