The proportion of self-rated olfactory dysfunction does not change across the life span.
BACKGROUND
Previous reports indicated that self-reports of olfactory function are unreliable. The occurrence of measured olfactory dysfunction is approximately 20% in the general population and consistently higher than that of self-reported olfactory dysfunction. To further understand the frequencies of self-rated olfactory function in different age groups and its relation with measured olfactory function, a prospective investigation of self-rated and measured olfactory function was performed.


METHODS
One thousand five subjects were enrolled from the health care center, where subjects underwent a physical checkup for possible preclinical diseases. The subjects completed a questionnaire about demographic data and medical and surgical histories and self-rated their olfactory function. Then, they received a modified "Sniffin' Sticks" odor identification test.


RESULTS
The self-rated olfaction function did not correlate significantly with measured olfactory function. The frequencies of self-rated olfactory dysfunction (9-14%) were similar among various age groups. However, the frequencies of measured olfactory dysfunction in the three age groups, i.e., 18 to 35, 36 to 55, and > 55 years, were 3.7%, 17.4%, and 35.6%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-ratings of olfactory function were unreliable at all ages. The frequencies of self-rated olfactory function in various age groups did not differ significantly, in contrast to the decrease of measured olfactory function with age.
Shu
Chih-Hung
CH
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. chshu@vghtpe.gov.tw
Hummel
Thomas
T
Lee
Po-Lei
PL
Chiu
Cheng-Hung
CH
Lin
Shih-Hsiang
SH
Yuan
Ben-Chih
BC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult