Prevalence of Associated Extraoral Symptoms and Comorbidities in Burning Mouth Syndrome Patients: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: Patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) suffer from oral pain in the absence of oral lesions. Although less frequently, they may also experience extraoral symptoms that are not readily apparent to clinicians. This study aimed to systematically assess the prevalence of associated extraoral symptoms and comorbid disorders in BMS patients.

Methods: Comprehensive searches were performed in five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and LILACS). Observational studies that reported extraoral symptoms in primary BMS patients were included. The collected data were analyzed descriptively. The quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools.

Results: We included 22 studies encompassing 2786 BMS patients. Most patients were female (n = 2138; 76.7%). BMS-associated extraoral symptoms and comorbidities disorders included sleep disturbances (71.8%), anxiety (65.7%), depression (60.6%), alexithymia (6.1%), tinnitus (5.9%), low back pain (45.3%), and headache (4.4%). Fifteen studies were classified as low risk, six as moderate risk, and one as high risk of bias.

Conclusions: BMS patients experience associated extraoral symptoms and comorbid disorders in addition to intraoral pain. These symptoms must be taken into account by clinicians and receive appropriate clinical treatment, as they can significantly affect patients' quality of life.