Volume 128, Issue 1 pp. 10-15

Allergy/Rhinology

Postinfectious olfactory loss: A retrospective study on 791 patients

Annachiara Cavazzana PhD,

Corresponding Author

Annachiara Cavazzana PhD

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-2947-5424

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

Send correspondence to Annachiara Cavazzana, PhD, Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Maria Larsson PhD,

Maria Larsson PhD

Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

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Marcus Münch MD,

Marcus Münch MD

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Antje Hähner MD,

Antje Hähner MD

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Thomas Hummel MD,

Thomas Hummel MD

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Annachiara Cavazzana PhD,

Corresponding Author

Annachiara Cavazzana PhD

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0003-2947-5424

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

Maria Larsson PhD,

Maria Larsson PhD

Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

Search for more papers by this author

Marcus Münch MD,

Marcus Münch MD

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Antje Hähner MD,

Antje Hähner MD

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Search for more papers by this author

Thomas Hummel MD,

Thomas Hummel MD

Smell and Taste Clinic, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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First published: 29 May 2017

https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.26606

Citations: 84

This research was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to t.h. (DFG HU411/18-1) and the Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences to M.L. (M14-0375:1).

The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis

Postinfectious olfactory loss is among the most common causes of olfactory impairment and has substantial negative impact on patients' quality of life. Recovery rates have been shown to spontaneously improve in most of patients, usually within 2 to 3 years. However, existing studies are limited by small sample sizes and short follow-up. We aimed to assess the prognostic factors for recovery in a large sample of 791 patients with postinfectious olfactory disorders.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 791 patients with postinfectious olfactory loss. Olfactory functions were assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks test at the first and final visits (mean follow-up = 1.94 years).

Results

Smell test scores improved over time. In particular, patient's age and the odor threshold (T), odor discrimination (D), and odor identification (I) (TDI) score at first visit were significant predictors of the extent of change. The percentage of anosmic and hyposmic patients exhibiting clinically significant improvement was 46% and 35%, respectively.

Conclusions

This study provides new evidence within the postinfectious olfactory loss literature, shedding light on the prognostic factors and showing that recovery of olfactory function is very frequent, even many years after the infection.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 128:10–15, 2018

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Citing Literature

Volume128, Issue1

January 2018

Pages 10-15

Postinfectious olfactory loss: A retrospective study on 791 patients

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis

Study Design

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Level of Evidence

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Postinfectious olfactory loss: A retrospective study on 791 patients

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis

Study Design

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Level of Evidence

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information