The Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Objectives: Many studies have reported that olfactory dysfunction frequently occurs in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) populations; however, the prevalence and degree of olfactory loss has not been systematically studied. The aims of this study were to use combined data to report the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and to calculate weighted averages of olfactory test scores in CRS patients. Data Sources: A search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus, following the methods of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Review Methods: Studies reporting the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction using objective measures or olfactory test scores using validated scales were included. Results: A total of 47 articles were included in a systematic review and 35 in the pooled data analysis. The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis was found to be 30.0% using the Brief Smell Identification Test, 67.0% using the 40-item Smell Identification Test, and 78.2% using the total Sniffin' Sticks score. Weighted averages 6 standard deviation of olfactory test scores were 25.96 +/- 7.11 using the 40-item Smell Identification Test, 8.60 +/- 2.81 using the Brief Smell Identification Test, 21.96 +/- 8.88 using total Sniffin' Sticks score, 5.65 +/- 1.51 using Sniffin' Sticks-Threshold, 9.21 +/- 4.63 using Sniffin' Sticks-Discrimination, 9.47 +/- 3.92 using Sniffin' Sticks-Identification, and 8.90 +/- 5.14 using the Questionnaire for Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements. Conclusions: In CRS populations, a significant percentage of patients experience olfactory dysfunction, and mean olfactory scores are within the dysosmic range.