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. 2018 Jul;8(7):783-789.
doi: 10.1002/alr.22113. Epub 2018 Mar 23.

Taste impairment in chronic rhinosinusitis

Florence Othieno  1 , Rodney J Schlosser  1   2 , Nicholas R Rowan  1 , Kristina A Storck  1 , Jose L Mattos  3 , Timothy L Smith  4 , Zachary M Soler  1
Affiliations

Taste impairment in chronic rhinosinusitis

Florence Othieno et al. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Though many patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) describe disturbances in smell and taste, there have been no studies specifically assessing taste impairment in CRS. This study sought to objectively assess taste dysfunction in CRS patients and determine whether taste impairment correlates with olfactory dysfunction. Additionally, this investigation sought to determine the impact of taste dysfunction on quality of life (QOL) in CRS and identify the clinical factors that influence taste.

Methods: Sixty-eight CRS patients were prospectively enrolled and completed several QOL surveys in relation to taste, smell, overall sinus-specific QOL, and depression. Validated taste strips were used to determine gustatory dysfunction pertaining to sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Olfactory testing was assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks Test while both Lund-Kennedy and Olfactory Cleft Endoscopy Scoring (OCES) systems were used for endoscopic evaluation.

Results: The overall prevalence of dysgeusia was 28%, with scores significantly lower for sour compared to other subgroups. No correlation was observed between taste scores and objective olfactory metrics including olfaction tests and OCES. Taste scores were better in younger patients (r = 0.28, p = 0.02), female patients (p = 0.004), and never smokers compared to former smokers (p = 0.01). Taste scores did not correlate with patient-reported outcome measures or CRS disease severity metrics.

Conclusion: Taste dysfunction is a common complaint in CRS. This cohort shows prevalence of gustatory loss to be about 28% using ideal normative values. This dysfunction correlated with male gender, smoking history, and older age. Taste dysfunction did not correlate with measured olfactory outcomes.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02720653.

Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis; olfaction disorders; quality of life; taste; taste perception.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: ZMS is a consultant for Olympus and 480 Biomedical as well as on the advisory board for Regeneron. RJS is consultant for Olympus and Arrinex and has received grant support from Entellus and Intersect.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total TDI scores versus total taste scores
Figure 2a–c
Figure 2a–c
Individual Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification scores verusus Total Taste Scores
Figure 2a–c
Figure 2a–c
Individual Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification scores verusus Total Taste Scores
Figure 2a–c
Figure 2a–c
Individual Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification scores verusus Total Taste Scores
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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