Olfactory Dysfunction in Adults from Rio Grande do Norte: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Neuroscience
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction can stem from various factors including viral infections, head trauma, and systemic diseases.
• Understanding the prevalence and risk factors of smell disorders is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the epidemiology of olfactory disorders in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
• To identify the prevalence and primary risk factors associated with olfactory dysfunction in the region.

Main Methods:

• 180 volunteers in Rio Grande do Norte completed the Connecticut Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) smell test.
• Participants also underwent a clinical and demographic questionnaire to gather relevant data.

Main Results:

• 58.89% of participants had normosmia, and 87.78% ranged from normal to mild hyposmia.
• Nasal surgery (p=0.041) and self-reported smell deficits (p=0.006) correlated with poorer olfactory test performance.
• No statistically significant association was found between olfactory status and a history of COVID-19 infection (p=0.254).

Conclusions:

• The prevalence and characteristics of altered smell in this study differed from previous research using the same olfactory test.
• The study did not establish a clear relationship between COVID-19 infection and olfactory dysfunction.