Age-related exacerbation in disease-associated olfactory disorders

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Gerontology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is influenced by aging and disease.
• Limited epidemiological data exists on aging's role in OD causes.
• This study investigates age's impact on major OD etiologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine how aging affects olfactory function in patients with major causes of OD.
• To analyze age-related differences in olfactory sensory testing results across various OD types.
• To assess the odds of severe OD based on age and gender.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1986 patients from a smell clinic.
• Quantitative olfactory function assessed using T&T olfactometer thresholds.
• Patients grouped by age (20s-80s); analysis of age group and disease differences; odds ratio for severe OD by age (<60 vs. ≥60) and gender.

Main Results:

• Significant age-related decline in olfactory thresholds (detection & recognition) observed in non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis, post-infectious OD, and idiopathic OD.
• No significant age effect on olfactory thresholds was found in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis or post-traumatic OD.
• Odds ratio analysis indicated age as a significant factor for severe OD in specific conditions.

Conclusions:

• Age-related olfactory changes vary significantly across different OD conditions.
• Clinicians must consider both age and specific disease pathology for accurate OD diagnosis and management, especially in older adults.
• Findings highlight the differential impact of aging on olfactory function depending on the underlying cause of OD.