Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2012 Aug;55(8):482-486. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.8.482.

Five Years Follow-Up of Posttraumatic and Postviral Olfactory Disorders and Analysis of Quality of Life

• Lee JH
• Yoo SW

• KMID: 2277371
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.8.482

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Posttraumatic olfactory disorder is an olfactory loss following head trauma and postviral olfactory disorder is an olfactory loss following an upper respiratory infection, with symptoms often being demonstrating less interest in eating and exhibiting emotional impairment. As there is a lack of research regarding the long-term recovery rate of olfactory disorders, this study aims to determine that of both olfactory disorders and describe the quality of life (QOL) in the patients.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Olfactory recovery was investigated in the first and recent visits (minimal 5 years follow-up) of 18 posttraumatic olfactory disorder patients and 14 postviral olfactory disorder patients. A total of 32 patients completed 6 items of QOL questionnaire ranging from 0 to 10.
RESULTS
Five (27%) of the 18 posttraumatic olfactory disorder patients showed olfactory improvement. Nine (64%) of 14 postviral olfactory disorder patients showed olfactory improvement. The mean overall rating of QOL was increased according to the severity of olfactory impairment (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
The long-term follow-up may be important to assess the olfactory disorder patients. The quality of life such as eating habits, depressive mood, and safety issues may be altered in the olfactory disorder patients.

Keyword

Disease; Follow-up study; Quality of life; Smell

MeSH Terms

Craniocerebral Trauma
Eating
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Smell