Quality of life in patients with olfactory loss is better predicted by flavor identification than by orthonasal olfactory function.

Quality of life in patients with olfactory loss is better predicted by flavor identification than by orthonasal olfactory function. Chem Senses. 2019 May 02;: Authors: Oleszkiewicz A, Park D, Resler K, Draf J, Schulze A, Zang Y, Hähner A, Hummel T Abstract To date, most studies on the relationship between chemosensory performance and quality of life have focused on orthonasal measures of olfactory function. In the current investigation, we examined the predictive value of orthonasal and flavor identification indices of olfactory function on a wide spectrum of health and sociopsychological factors, including quality of life, life satisfaction, overall health and depressive symptoms. Participants were 178 ENT patients (Mage=58±1) representing various causes of olfactory loss: idiopathic smell loss (n=51; Mage=63±2), sinunasal disease (n=27; Mage=56±3), head trauma (n=33; Mage=51±2), and infections of the upper respiratory tract (n=67; Mage=59±2). They completed self-report questionnaires and underwent olfactory testing using Sniffin' Sticks (orthonasal olfactory testing) and ""Taste Powder" (intraorally applied flavors for retronasal olfactory testing, additionally inducing taste sensation). Data were analyzed with hierarchical regression models wherein the first step included subjects' sex, age and orthonasal olfaction score. In the second step we included the "Taste Powder" score. Tested models revealed that the first step was...
Source: Chemical Senses - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Chem Senses Source Type: research