Clinical experience with patients with olfactory complaints, and their quality of life

A special consulting team for patients with olfactory disorders would be able to verify, describe, and explain the characteristics of the disorders, also in cases where a patient experiences a disorder, but has a normal sense of smell.

The general purpose of this paper was to present our experience with patients seeking medical attention for olfactory disorders, and to describe how quantitative and qualitative olfactory disorders are diagnosed, what the etiologies are, and how quality of life is compromised in patients with olfactory disorders.

This investigation was performed prospectively over a 10-year period by one physician responsible for the consulting team for patients with olfactory disorders. Based on a standardized clinical examination, a structured interview, and assessment of olfactory function, its aim was to diagnose quantitative and qualitative disorders in 303 consecutive patients. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) in about one-third of patients.

In the majority of patients, a reduced sense of smell was found after testing. Often, but not always, this was combined with qualitative disorders. Dominating etiologies were infections, nasal polyposis, head trauma, and aging. Patients complaining of olfactory disorders experience a significantly reduced quality of life regarding the impact of their health problem on paid employment, household work, and social and family life.