title: Olfactory dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus: an additional manifestation of microvascular disease?
abstract: We evaluated olfactory dysfunction in 154 adults (74 men, mean age 60.9±11.9 years), of whom 119 had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Olfactory function was assessed with "Sniffin' Sticks." A total Threshold-Discrimination-Identification (TDI) score was calculated. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were associated with lower olfactory scores (all TDI scores<0.001). Age was negatively associated with odor threshold, odor identification, and TDI score (P=.009, <.001, and <.001, respectively). After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease, only T2DM and hypertension were associated with TDI score (R square=0.281). Diabetic complications were associated with olfactory dysfunction (P=.006): TDI scores were lower in the presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (P=.017) and retinopathy (P=.047). In conclusion, T2DM and hypertension are independently associated with olfactory dysfunction while diabetic peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy are significantly associated with lower olfactory scores. The clinical relevance of these findings needs to be further examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Outpatient Clinic of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Second Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece vangouv@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gouveri
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katotomichelakis
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gouveris
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danielides
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Outpatient Clinic of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Second Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maltezos
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Outpatient Clinic of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Second Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000150:complications*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012684:Sensory Thresholds
keywords: Sniffin’ Sticks; diabetic complications; olfaction; type 2 diabetes mellitus