Loss of smell in patients with aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease impacts mental health and quality of life

• DOI: 10.1111/cea.14157
• Publication Date: 2022-05-04T06:44:59Z
• Authors: Raffi Tchekmedyian; Marie Lundberg; Kathleen M. Buchheit; Rie Maurer; Deborah Gakpo; Jyotsna Mullur; Jillian C. Bensko; Tanya M. Laidlaw
• Keywords: Anosmia; Hyposmia

The impact of anosmia on quality-of-life (QoL) for patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate how the severity smell loss and olfactory dysfunction (OD) in AERD affects their QoL, mental health physical well-being.Five validated QoL questionnaires (Sinonasal Outcome Test-22, Asthma Control Test, Healthy Days Core Module-4, Short Form-36 Patient Health Questionnaire-4) two newly developed assessing consequences OD were electronically sent all 2913 Brigham Women's Hospital registry. Responses received from 853 participants analysis.Overall, 85% reported a present diminished sense and/or taste, 30% categorized was, "as bad as it can be." There significant relationships between self-reported both psychological distress general scores, even after adjusting asthma control. Additionally, incidence rates physically mentally unhealthy days prior month higher moderate or severe than normosmic patients. Patients responded that they could not identify spoiled food (86%), did enjoy (71%), felt unsafe (63%) had encountered dangerous situations (51%) OD.Anosmia hyposmia severely physical, emotional patients, lead safety concerns daily lives. importance olfaction relevance patients' should be acknowledged evaluated by clinicians caring these