title: How does measured olfactory function correlate with self-ratings of the sense of smell in patients with nasal polyposis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, INSERM, CIC-EC CIE6, Nancy, France. ductrung96@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Duc Trung
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Phi-Linh
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Nguyen-Thi
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jankowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult