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Olfactory function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis study.

Giannicola Iannella1,2, Giuseppe Magliulo3, Antonino Maniaci4

  • 1Otolaryngology, Head-Neck and Oral Surgery Unit, Department of Head-Neck Surgery, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Via Carlo Forlanini, 34, 47121, Forlì, Italy. giannicola.iannella@uniroma1.it.

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
|September 11, 2020
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Summary

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients exhibit impaired olfactory function compared to healthy individuals, as evidenced by lower scores on the Sniffin' Sticks test. While increased apnea severity correlates with olfactory dysfunction, the severity of OSA did not significantly impact olfactory parameter differences.

Keywords:
Cholinergic disordersObstructive sleep apneaOlfactory functionSniffin’ Sticks test

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Area of Science:

  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition affecting respiratory function during sleep.
  • Olfactory dysfunction can impact quality of life and has been anecdotally linked to OSA.
  • Understanding the relationship between OSA and smell is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically analyze olfactory function in patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
  • To compare olfactory parameters between OSA patients and healthy control subjects.
  • To investigate the correlation between OSA severity and the degree of olfactory dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis was conducted, reviewing English-language literature on OSA and olfactory function.
  • Studies utilizing the Sniffin' Sticks test to assess olfactory dysfunction in OSA patients were included.
  • Data from 420 OSA patients and 161 healthy controls were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • OSA patients demonstrated significantly lower olfactory function scores (TDI: 24.3±5.6) compared to healthy controls (TDI: 30.7±6.0, p=0.03).
  • A linear correlation was found between increased Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and decreased olfactory function (TDI) (R²=0.1, p=0.05).
  • No statistically significant difference in olfactory dysfunction severity was observed between mild-moderate OSA and severe OSA groups (p=0.3).

Conclusions:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with impaired olfactory function, as measured by the Sniffin' Sticks test.
  • A correlation exists between the severity of OSA (AHI) and the degree of olfactory impairment.
  • The severity of OSA does not appear to significantly differentiate the extent of olfactory dysfunction.