Assessing parosmia patients: a study on the evaluation method using a self-administered odor questionnaire for...

Parosmia symptoms are difficult to quantify due to their heterogeneity among patients, and thus a clinical challenge. This study aimed to assess parosmia with Self-Administered Odor Questionnaire for Parosmia (SAOQ-P), a modification of the widely used SAOQ in Japan. The primary objective was to assess the effectiveness of SAOQ-P in identifying parosmia symptoms and its potential integration into the clinical assessment process. The study also explored traditional olfactory test differences between patients with and without parosmia.

Patients at Jikei Smell Clinic that presented between May 2022 and November 2022 were recruited and administered the SAOQ-P, which had an added question about changes in the perception of 20 daily odors compared to the original SAOQ. Traditional olfactory tests utilized T&T olfactometry and Open Essence.

Of 279 patients, 81 had parosmia, while 198 did not exhibit parosmic symptoms. Parosmia prevalence was influenced by the cause of olfactory dysfunction, with post-infectious and post-COVID-19 patients showing higher parosmia rates. Among parosmia patients, 87% reported changes in their perception of at least one odor assessed by SAOQ-P, with coffee, stool, and perfume most commonly affected. Traditional olfactory tests showed no significant differences between parosmia and non-parosmia groups. The number of odors causing parosmia was negatively correlated with age.

SAOQ-P offers a promising approach to assess and quantify parosmia symptoms, seamlessly integrating into clinical assessments. SAOQ-P identified parosmia in 87% of patients and revealed insights into triggering factors. Traditional olfactory tests' limitations underscore the need for more accurate, patient-centric diagnostic approaches for parosmia.