Li S, Boscolo-Rizzo P, Uderzo F, Tirelli G, Whitcroft KL, Hummel T. Orthonasal and retronasal odor identification in patients with parosmia.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2023;
280:4933-4938. [PMID:
37338584 PMCID:
PMC10562280 DOI:
10.1007/s00405-023-08072-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare retronasal and orthonasal perception in parosmic COVID-19 patients, in order to determine whether COVID-19 has a differential effect on these functions.
METHODS
Using the Sniffin Sticks test battery orthonasal function was examined for odor threshold, discrimination and identification. Retronasal function was assessed using 20 tasteless aromatized powders. Gustatory function was measured using the Taste Strips test.
RESULTS
This study included 177 patients (127 women, 50 men; mean age 45 years), of whom 127 (72%) were hyposmic and 50 (28%) normosmic. Compared to patients without parosmia, parosmic patients performed worse in odor identification for both orthonasal (F = 4.94, p = 0.03) and retronasal tests (F = 11.95, p < 0.01). However, an interaction effect between route of odor identification (orthonasal or retronasal) and parosmia status was found (F = 4.67, p = 0.03): patients with parosmia had relatively lower retronasal scores than patients without parosmia.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that COVID-19 may affect the olfactory mucosa differently along the anterior-posterior axis, thereby possibly contributing to the pathophysiology of parosmia. Patients with parosmia also exhibit a higher degree of impairment when odors are presented through the retronasal route during eating and drinking.
Collapse