Contemporary assessment of the prevalence of smell and taste problems in adults

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Determine the prevalence of smell disturbance and taste disturbance and associated factors in adults.

Study design: Cross-sectional analysis of nationwide household health survey.

Methods: Data from the taste and smell disorders component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011 to 2012 were examined. The prevalence of self-reported problems with taste and/or smell among adults and the associated symptom frequency, related healthcare provider interactions, and symptoms/etiologies (e.g., persistent cold/flu, dry mouth, or head injury, etc.) were determined. Associations between sex and age with smell and taste disturbances as well as the relationship between smell and taste disturbances were determined.

Results: Among 142.5 ± 12.6 million adult Americans (raw N = 3,594), there were an estimated 15.1 ± 2.1 million individuals (10.6% ± 1.0%) with self-reported smell disturbance in the prior 12 months. Sex was not associated with the prevalence of self-reported smell disturbance (P = 0.146), but increasing age was associated with an increasing prevalence of smell disturbance (odds ratio [OR] 1.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.003-1.312). An estimated 7.5 ± 0.6 million individuals (5.3% ± 0.3%) reporting a problem with taste in the prior 12 months. Sex was not associated with the prevalence of taste disturbance (P = 0.947) but increasing age was (OR 1.202; 1.037-1.395). Among 19.4 ± 2.2 million reporting smell and/or taste abnormality, 20.2% ± 2.3% discussed this with a healthcare provider and 5.8% ± 1.4% felt it interfered with their daily life.

Conclusion: A significant number of adult Americans report problems with smell disturbance and taste disturbance. Further work to identify patients whose smell or taste disturbance can be helped is warranted.

Level of evidence: 2b.

Keywords: Smell; anosmia; epidemiology; prevalence; smell disturbance; taste; taste disturbance.