Self-awareness of olfactory dysfunction in elderly individuals without neurodegenerative diseases.

PURPOSE: The decrease in smell in the elderly population is frequent and considered a natural process. However, sometimes it can be associated with the decline of cognitive functions, and it is considered a warning for the early stage of neurodegenerative diseases and social impairment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in previous healthy elderly that attended a tertiary hospital in Brazil as escorts and the clinical alterations associated in this population. METHODS: Subjects 60 years or over attending the University Hospital of Campinas were evaluated. Each participant answered a questionnaire, followed by an otorhinolaryngological exam with flexible nasal endoscopy and the Connecticut smell test produced by the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC). Elderly people with nasosinusal diseases or with a history of nasal surgery were excluded. RESULTS: Of the total of 103 participants, 16 (15.5%) reported olfactory complaints and 68 (66%) presented impairment in the olfactory test. It was observed that older individuals showed more changes in olfactory function (p = 0.001). Gender, education, lifestyle, comorbidities, medications in use and exposure to pollutants did not influence the impairment olfactory function of this population. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in the elderly population evaluated. Most of these elderlies also present an inability to identify odours, not having awareness of this olfactory impairment.

Correlation and agreement of olfactory perception assessed by the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test and the Brief-Smell Identification Test / Correlação e concordância da percepção olfativa avaliada pelos testes olfativos chemosensory clinical research center e brief-smell identification test,

Abstract Introduction: Assessing olfactory perception in olfactory disorders is of utmost importance in therapy management. However, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and the Sniffin' Sticks are the only tests validated in Brazil. Objectives: To evaluate the correlation and agreement between the Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test and the Brief-Smell Identification Test - University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test - in healthy participants and in participants with olfactory disorders based on the results and technical aspects of both tests. Methods: Fifty participants without olfactory complaints and 50 participants with olfactory disorders who underwent the Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test and the Brief-Smell Identification Test were included. The following tests were used for statistical analysis: Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation, intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot. An alpha error (significance level) of 0.05 was considered in the statistical analysis. Results: Both tests were effective in distinguishing the groups without the presence of overlapping values for the measured markers. Additionally, there was a strong correlation between Spearman's correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient between the tests and for both nostrils. However, the correlations were lower when the groups were individually evaluated. The Bland-Altman plot showed no bias when all participants were simultaneously evaluated. Conclusions: The tests to assess olfactory perception presented a high level of agreement. In our sample, we could infer that the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test is similar to the Brief-Smell Identification Test and can be used in the routine diagnosis of patients with complaints of olfactory disorders, considering the advantage of its low cost.

Resumo Introdução: Avaliar a percepção olfativa em distúrbios olfativos é de extrema importância para a correta conduta terapêutica. No entanto, apenas o teste University of Pennsylvania smell identification test e o teste sniffin'sticks são validados no Brasil. Objetivos: Avaliar a correlação e concordância entre os testes Connecticut chemosensory clinical research center e do brief-smell identification test e University of Pennsylvania smell identification test em participantes saudáveis e em participantes com distúrbios olfativos de acordo com os resultados e aspectos técnicos dos dois testes. Método: Cinquenta participantes sem queixas olfativas e 50 participantes com distúrbios olfativos submetidos ao teste Connecticut chemosensory clinical research center e ao brief-smell identification test foram incluídos. Os seguintes testes foram usados para análise estatística: teste U de Mann-Whitney, correlação de Spearman, coeficiente de correlação intraclasse e plotagem de Bland-Altman. Um erro alfa (nível de significância) de 0,05 foi considerado nas análises estatísticas feitas no estudo. Resultados: Ambos os testes foram eficazes para diferenciar os grupos sem a presença de valores sobrepostos para os marcadores medidos. Além disso, houve uma forte correlação entre a correlação de Spearman e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse entre os testes e para as duas narinas. Entretanto, as correlações foram menores quando os grupos foram avaliados individualmente. O gráfico de Bland-Altman não mostrou viés quando todos os participantes foram avaliados simultaneamente. Conclusões: Os testes para avaliar a percepção olfativa apresentaram um elevado nível de concordância. Em nossa amostra, podemos inferir que o Connecticut chemosensory clinical research center é equivalente ao brief-smell identification test e pode ser usado no diagnóstico de rotina de pacientes com queixas de distúrbios olfativos, considerando a vantagem de seu baixo custo.

Correlation and agreement of olfactory perception assessed by the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test and the Brief-Smell Identification Test.

INTRODUCTION: Assessing olfactory perception in olfactory disorders is of utmost importance in therapy management. However, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and the Sniffin' Sticks are the only tests validated in Brazil. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation and agreement between the Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test and the Brief-Smell Identification Test - University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test - in healthy participants and in participants with olfactory disorders based on the results and technical aspects of both tests. METHODS: Fifty participants without olfactory complaints and 50 participants with olfactory disorders who underwent the Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test and the Brief-Smell Identification Test were included. The following tests were used for statistical analysis: Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation, intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot. An alpha error (significance level) of 0.05 was considered in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Both tests were effective in distinguishing the groups without the presence of overlapping values ​​for the measured markers. Additionally, there was a strong correlation between Spearman's correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient between the tests and for both nostrils. However, the correlations were lower when the groups were individually evaluated. The Bland-Altman plot showed no bias when all participants were simultaneously evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The tests to assess olfactory perception presented a high level of agreement. In our sample, we could infer that the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory test is similar to the Brief-Smell Identification Test and can be used in the routine diagnosis of patients with complaints of olfactory disorders, considering the advantage of its low cost.