Olfactory identification deficits and increased mortality in the community

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epidemiology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction is common in older adults.
• The association between smell identification deficits and mortality requires further investigation in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between impaired odor identification and subsequent mortality in a multiethnic cohort of older adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) for odor identification assessment.
• Conducted follow-up assessments every two years, collecting mortality data through interviews and the National Death Index.

Main Results:

• Over a mean follow-up of 4.1 years, 29.9% of participants died.
• Lower UPSIT scores were significantly associated with increased mortality (HR=1.07 per point, p<0.001), even after adjusting for multiple confounders.
• Mortality rates were 45% in the lowest UPSIT quartile (anosmia) compared to 18% in the highest quartile.

Conclusions:

• Impaired odor identification, particularly anosmia, is a significant independent predictor of increased mortality in older adults.
• These findings suggest that olfactory function may serve as a prognostic indicator for mortality in aging populations.