Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41424768›Full record

ArticleTobacco induced diseases2025

Association between duration or intensity of tobacco smoking and olfactory function: A cross-sectional study among smokers willing to quit smoking.

Cornelia Wälchli, Valerie Grünig, Kali Tal, Nicolas Rodondi, Ivan Berlin, Jean-Paul Humair, Anja Frei, Susanne Pohle, Julian Jakob, Reto Auer and 2 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco induced diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04617444 (Substudy of Efficacy, Safety and Toxicology of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems as an Aid for Smoking Cessation), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04617444 nacompletednot on this map

Substudy of Efficacy, Safety and Toxicology of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems as an Aid for Smoking Cessation (ESTxENDS Trial)- the Olfactory Function Substudy of ESTxENDS

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of BernRan2020 to 2023Enrolled389ConditionsSmoking Cessation, Olfactory DisorderArmsENDS (vaporizer/e-cig) and smoking cessation counseling, Smoking cessation counseling
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Cornelia WälchliInstitute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Valerie GrünigInstitute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Kali TalInstitute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Nicolas RodondiInstitute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Ivan BerlinDepartment of Medical Pharmacology, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France.
Jean-Paul HumairPrimary Care Division, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
Anja FreiEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Susanne PohleClinic for Pneumology and Sleep Medicine, HOCH Health Ostschweiz, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Julian JakobInstitute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Reto AuerInstitute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Sophia C PolettiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Anna SchoeniInstitute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionA range of studies suggests that people who smoke tobacco have impaired olfactory function, but few have explored the association between smoking history, such as duration or intensity, and olfactory function. We aimed to determine the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction among adult smokers and to test the association between duration or intensity of smoking and olfactory function.

methodsFor this cross-sectional study we consecutively invited adult smokers, participating in a smoking cessation trial conducted in five Swiss study sites, to undergo olfactory function testing at baseline from September 2020 to June 2021. We tested olfactory function with the Burghart's Sniffin' Sticks 16-item identification test resulting in an olfactory identification score (OIS) of 0-16 points. We defined olfactory dysfunction as an OIS ≤11 points. We fitted multivariable regression models to test the association between the OIS or olfactory dysfunction and self-reported smoking parameters [cigarettes per day (CPD), years of smoking (YOS) and pack-years] adjusted for relevant confounders such as demographics, substance use and comorbidities.

resultsOf 388 eligible participants, 375 (96.7%) completed the olfactory testing. Mean age was 39.0 years (SD=13.2), and 44.8% identified as women. The participants smoked on average 15 (SD=7.1) cigarettes per day for a median duration of 18 years (IQR: 11-28). Mean OIS was 13.3 (SD=1.8) and 12.0% had olfactory dysfunction. Olfactory dysfunction was significantly associated with pack-years (OR=1.03; 95% CI: 1.00-1.05) but not with YOS or CPD. OIS was negatively associated with pack-years (coefficient= -11.11; 95% CI: -4.29 - -17.94). OIS was not significantly associated with YOS or CPD.

conclusionsAmong smokers smoking ≥5 cigarettes per day participating in a smoking cessation trial, about one in ten had olfactory dysfunction. Higher number of pack-years were associated with a worse measure of olfactory function and with olfactory dysfunction. CLINICAL

trial registrationThis sub-study of the ESTxENDS trial is pre-registered on the official website of ClinicalTrials.gov. IDENTIFIER: NCT04617444.

Indexed as

Burghart’s Sniffin Sticksolfactory dysfunctionsmoking cessationtobacco smoking

Identifiers

PMID41424768
PMCPMC12717943

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.