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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 25(04): e563-e569
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722249
Original Research

Differences in Correlation between Subjective and Measured Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunctions after Initial Ear, Nose and Throat Evaluation

Hans Jacob Nørgaard 
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Flavour Clinic, West Hospital Unit, Central Denmark Region, Holstebro, Denmark
2   Flavour Institute, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens, Aarhus N, Denmark
,
Alexander Wieck Fjaeldstad 
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Flavour Clinic, West Hospital Unit, Central Denmark Region, Holstebro, Denmark
2   Flavour Institute, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens, Aarhus N, Denmark
3   Department of Psychiatry, Center for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Funding Sources The last author wishes to acknowledge research salary funding from Arla Foods (Viby, Denmark) and the Central Denmark Region, as well as research funding from the Hans Skouby Foundation and the Velux Fonden. The sponsors had no say, roles or responsibilities in relation to the study, including (but not limited to) the study design, data collection, management and analysis.
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Abstract

Introduction Subjective chemosensory function can differ from measured function. Previous studies on olfactory assessment have found a positive correlation between subjective and measured scores. However, information on gustatory correlation between measured and subjective functions is sparse in patients who have undergone an initial ear, nose and throat (ENT) evaluation.

Objectives To evaluate the correlation between subjective and measured olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in a population complaining of taste and/or smell dysfunction after an initial ENT evaluation without chemosensory testing. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the need for chemosensory testing depending on the type of subjective chemosensory dysfunction.

Methods A case series in which subjective chemosensory function was assessed through a questionnaire and measured chemosensory function was assessed by validated clinical tests.

Results In total, 602 patients with complaints of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction were included. We found that 50% of the patients with normal gustatory function and an olfactory impairment classified their olfactory impairment as a subjective taste disorder. Furthermore, 98% of the patients who rated their olfactory function as absent did have a measurable olfactory impairment, but only 64% were anosmic.

Conclusion Subjective gustatory dysfunction was poorly correlated with measured gustatory dysfunction, and was often found to reflect olfactory dysfunction. Contrarily, subjective olfactory dysfunction was positively correlated with measurable olfactory dysfunction. Although subjective anosmia was a strong indicator of measured anosmia or hyposmia, the existence of remaining olfactory function was frequently found in these patients. Validated chemosensory testing should be performed in patients with perceived olfactory or gustatory deficits, as this could help ensure increased diagnostic precision and a relevant treatment.

Keywords

smell - taste - olfactory testing - gustatory testing - chemosensory dysfunction

Statement of Ethics

The present study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki on Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects. As the study was based on register data, it did not require regional Ethical Committee approval in accordance with the Danish Committee Act, Section 10, Subsection 1. During enrolment, the subjects were given detailed information about all testing procedures. Written consent was obtained from all patients prior to the study, and storage of data was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (reference number 1–16–02–394–19).


Author Contributions

The idea for the project was conceived by the last author. Both authors contributed to the planning of the study and data analysis, wrote the initial draft of the manuscript, and contributed to a subsequent review of the manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 02 September 2020

Accepted: 08 November 2020

Article published online:
19 February 2021

© 2021. Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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