Loss of smell in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease impacts mental health and quality of life

A common problem for AERD patients is loss of sense of smell, or anosmia, but its impact on patients’ quality of life, mental health, and physical wellbeing has been poorly studied. We developed a new questionnaire about the consequences of anosmia, which, along with several other quality-of-life questionnaires was sent to all our Registry patients. Eighty-five percent of the 853 patients who answered the questionnaires (Thank you!) reported diminished sense of smell and/or taste, and we learned that their loss of smell severely impacts their physical, emotional, and mental health. Many patients with diminished smell responded that they could not identify spoiled food (86%), did not enjoy food (71%), felt unsafe (63%), and had encountered dangerous situations (51%) because of their poor smell.
We think that the importance of sense of smell and the relevance of anosmia to patients’ lives should be acknowledged and evaluated by clinicians caring for these patients. Read more here.