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Olfactory Impairment and Frailty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Brian Sheng Yep Yeo1, Jun He Chan1, Benjamin Kye Jyn Tan1
1Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
JAMA Otolaryngology-- Head & Neck Surgery
|July 11, 2024
Summary
Olfactory impairment (OI) is linked to a higher likelihood of frailty in older adults. This systematic review found that worsening frailty status significantly increases the odds of olfactory impairment, suggesting OI may be a biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Clinical Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Olfactory impairment (OI) and frailty are common in aging populations.
- Previous studies on the association between OI and frailty have yielded inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize current evidence on the association between olfactory impairment and frailty.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted, including data from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and CINAHL up to November 2023.
- Ten studies involving 10,624 participants were analyzed.
- Random-effects models were used to pool maximally adjusted estimates, with heterogeneity assessed using I2 values.
Main Results:
- Olfactory impairment was associated with a 2.32-fold increased odds of frailty.
- The odds of olfactory impairment increased progressively with frailty status: 1.55-fold for prefrailty, 2.28-fold for frailty, and 4.67-fold for the most severe frailty.
- Subgroup and sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of these findings.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between olfactory impairment and frailty.
- Olfactory impairment may serve as a potential biomarker for frailty.
- Further research is warranted to explore if olfactory impairment is a modifiable risk factor for frailty.
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