ArticleChemosensory perception2014
Sensitivity and Specificity of Self-Reported Olfactory Function in a Home-Based Study of Independent-Living, Healthy Older Women.
Article in Chemosensory perception, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Olfactory dysfunction in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.Ageing research reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Effects of Culinary Spices on Liking and Consumption of Protein Rich Foods in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Nutrients · 2023Trial
- Assessment and behavioural management options for older adults with declined smell and taste functions: a scoping review.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026Article
- Age-related decrease of odorant sensitivity for a selection of nine diverse molecules.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025Article
- Chemosensory Dysfunction in Long-Term COVID-19 Assessed by Self-Reported and Direct Psychophysical Methods.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: Olfaction.International forum of allergy & rhinology · 2022Review
- Self-Reported Olfactory Dysfunction and Diet Quality: Findings from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).Nutrients · 2021Article
- NIH Workshop Report: sensory nutrition and disease.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2021Article
- Identifying Treatments for Taste and Smell Disorders: Gaps and Opportunities.Chemical senses · 2020Article
- Influences of Age, Sex and Smoking Habit on Flavor Recognition in Healthy Population.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Chronic Cigarette Smoking Associates Directly and Indirectly with Self-Reported Olfactory Alterations: Analysis of the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2019Article
- Heightened olfactory dysfunction and oral irritation among chronic smokers and heightened propylthiouracil (PROP) bitterness among menthol smokers.Physiology & behavior · 2019Article
- High Pesticide Exposure Events and Olfactory Impairment among U.S. Farmers.Environmental health perspectives · 2019Article
- Sensory Functioning in Older Adults: Relevance for Food Preference.Current opinion in food science · 2017Article
- Factors Associated with Inaccurate Self-Reporting of Olfactory Dysfunction in Older US Adults.Chemical senses · 2017Article
- On the nose: Olfactory disturbances in patients with transient epileptic amnesia.Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · 2017Article
- Effects of Ambient Air Pollution Exposure on Olfaction: A Review.Environmental health perspectives · 2016Review
- New chemosensory component in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): first-year results for measured olfactory dysfunction.Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders · 2016Review
- The Epidemiology of Olfactory Disorders.Current otorhinolaryngology reports · 2016Article
- Prevalence and Risk Factors of Self-Reported Smell and Taste Alterations: Results from the 2011-2012 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).Chemical senses · 2016Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThe 2011-14 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey chemosensory protocol asks adults to self-rate their orthonasal (via nostrils) and retronasal (via mouth) smell abilities for subsequent odor identification testing. From data collected with a similar protocol, we aimed to identify a self-reported olfactory index that showed the best sensitivity (correctly identifying dysfunction) and specificity (correctly indentifying normosmia) with measured olfaction.
methodsIn home-based testing, 121 independent-living older women (age 73±7 years) reported their olfactory function by interviewer-administered survey. Olfactory function was measured orthonasally via composite (odor threshold, identification task) or identification task alone.
resultsOnly 16 % of women self-rated "below average" smell function. More women perceived loss of smell (38 %) or flavor (30 %) with aging. The rate of measured dysfunction was 30 % by composite (threshold and identification) and 21.5 % by identification task, the latter misclassifying some mild dysfunction as normosmia. An index of self-rated smell function and perceived loss yielded the most favorable sensitivity (65 %) and specificity (77 %) to measured function. Self-rated olfaction showed better agreement with severe measured dysfunction; mild dysfunction was less noticed.
conclusionsSelf-reported indices that query about current and perceived changes in smell and flavor with aging showed better sensitivity estimates than those previously reported. Specificity was somewhat lower-some older adults may correctly perceive loss unidentified in a single assessment, or have a retronasal impairment that was undetected by an orthonasal measure. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings should inform self-rated measures that screen for severe olfactory dysfunction in clinical/community settings where testing is not routine.
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