title: Olfactory impairment in older adults: five-year incidence and risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the five-year incidence of olfactory impairment and associated risk factors in a general population of older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 1,556) in the population-based Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study had olfaction measured at the 5- and 10-year examinations (1998-2000 and 2003-2005, respectively). Olfactory ability was measured by the San Diego Odor Identification Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The five-year incidence of olfactory impairment was 12.5%. Incidence rates increased with age for men and women. In a multivariate model, age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.79, 95% CI, 1.61-2.00; for every five-year increase), a history of nasal polyps (OR = 2.33, 95% CI, 1.13-4.59), a history of deviated septum (OR = 2.05, 95% CI, 1.14-3.56), and a history of heavy alcohol use (OR = 1.84, 95% CI, 1.13-2.93) were associated with an increased risk of olfactory impairment, whereas use of lipid-lowering agents (OR = 0.68, 95% CI, 0.46-0.99; yes vs. no), exercising at least once a week (OR = 0.69, 95% CI, 0.48-0.98), and oral steroid use (OR = 0.37, 95% CI, 0.11-0.94) were associated with a decreased risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The five-year incidence of olfactory impairment is high in this population of older adults. Modifiable risk factors associated with impairment suggest some impairment could be amenable to prevention or treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Schubert@episense.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Carla R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cruickshanks
authors.forename: Barbara E K
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nondahl
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014922:Wisconsin
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents