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How does measured olfactory function correlate with self‐ratings of the sense of smell in patients with nasal polyposis?
Author(s) -
Nguyen Duc Trung,
NguyenThi PhiLinh,
Jankowski Roger
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.23219
Subject(s) - medicine , cutoff , olfactory system , olfaction , correlation , receiver operating characteristic , nose , odor , prospective cohort study , surgery , psychology , psychiatry , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: The objectives of this study were to investigate correlations, before and after surgery, between olfactory function self‐ratings and measurements, and self‐ratings of nasal obstruction and smell; and to establish cutoff points of self‐rating scores for smell reduction in patients with nasal polyposis (NP). Study Design: Prospective study. Methods: A total of 80 patients with NP (36 women, 44 men; aged 49 ± 4 years) were enrolled. Self‐ratings (0‐ to 10‐point scale) and measurements of olfactory function with standardized Sniffin' Sticks odor threshold and identification tests were assessed 1 day before surgery, and at 6 weeks (26–78 days) and 7 months (132–318 days) after surgery. Relationships were studied with Spearman correlation coefficients. Cutoff points of self‐rating scores for olfactory deficit were established using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Overall, olfactory function self‐ratings and measurements correlated strongly preoperatively ( r = −0.66, P < .0001) and postoperatively ( r = −0.67 at 6 weeks and −0.66 at 7 months, P < .0001). This relationship was better in patients with previous surgery. The correlation was weaker before surgery ( r = −0.35, P = .01) than after in hyposmic/anosmic patients ( r = −0.74, P < .0001 at 6 weeks and r = −0.73, P = .0002 at 7 months) and was not found in normosmic patients. Self‐ratings of nasal patency and smell were not correlated when two complaints were dissociated. Cutoff points of self‐rating scores for smell reduction were nine units preoperatively and five units postoperatively. Conclusions: Self‐ratings and measurements of olfactory function correlated well before and after surgery in NP patients with olfactory deficits. Self‐ratings were not reliable pre‐ and postoperatively in normosmic patients.