Psychophysical Olfactory Trends Across the Lifespan in People with Cystic Fibrosis

Sunday, September 29, 2024

1:42 PM – 1:48 PM EDT

Location: MBCC, 230

Disclosure(s):

Jeremy Paul Tervo, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

David A. Gudis, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: The high prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF), recent data showing a relative lack of olfactory improvement with highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT), and a paucity of literature on psychophysical olfactory outcomes in PwCF demands further investigation into the natural course of olfactory dysfunction (OD) in this population.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study where 37 PwCF were recruited to undergo psychophysical olfactory assessment via Sniffin’ Sticks. 89% (33/37) were on CF modulator therapy (mean = 33 months). Individuals 18 years old or older (n = 26) completed the extended test [threshold, discrimination, and identification] whereas those under 18 years old (n = 11) completed threshold and the pediatric U-Sniff identification test. Pediatric U-Sniff scores and standard identification scores were normalized for statistical comparison. Statistics involved linear regression, changepoint analysis, and Mann-Whitney U tests performed in R.

Results: Both threshold (Beta = -0.15, p < 0.001) and identification (Beta = -0.12, p < 0.001) scores decreased with age in PwCF. In total, 45% of pediatric and 70% of adult PwCF scored in the 10th percentile or lower for identification. Comparatively, 10% of pediatric and 54% of adult PwCF scored in the 10th percentile or lower for threshold. Changepoint analysis demonstrated that the olfactory threshold worsened at an earlier age than identification (40 years vs 52 years). Average values for threshold and identification were significantly different before and after their respective changepoints [threshold – (before: 8.2; after: 2.8, p < 0.001); identification – (before: 10.7; after: 5.2, p < 0.01)].

Conclusions: This is the first report to assess psychophysical olfactory performance across the lifespan in PwCF. This data suggests that PwCF develop severe OD at relatively young ages. Additionally, olfactory identification appears to be more severely affected across the lifespan whereas olfactory threshold declines at an earlier age than identification. Future studies should reassess these olfactory changepoints as PwCF receive HEMT earlier in life.

Presenting Author(s)

Jeremy P. Tervo, BS

Medical Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, New York, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

ED

Emily DiMango, MD

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
HS

Hossein Sadeghi, MD

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
CK

Claire Keating, MD

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
DG

David A. Gudis, MD

Associate Professor of Rhinology, Skull Base Surgery, and Pediatric Otolaryngology
Division of Rhinology & Anterior Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Senior Author(s)

JO

Jonathan B. Overdevest, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.