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

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.