Presentation Details
| Trends in Taste and Smell Alterations in the United States: Prevalence and Risk Factors Howard J.Hoffman1, Diana E.Fisher2, Susan E.Coldwell3, Chuan-Ming Li1, Shristi Rawal4, John E.Hayes5, Valerie B.Duffy6. 1Epidemiology, Statistics, and Population Sciences, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH) , Bethesda, MD, USA.2Office of Vision Health and Population Sciences, National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Heralth (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.3Oral Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.4Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences, School of Heath Professions, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.5Sensory Evaluation Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.6Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA |
Abstract
Background: Problems with taste and smell are common, increase with age, and can significantly impair health and quality of life. Methods: Data from the 2024 and 2021 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) (N=22,396 and N=20,248, respectively) were used to update estimates and make comparisons with the earlier pre-pandemic National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011-2014, where taste and smell questions were administered to adults aged 40+ years (n=7,413). Prevalence of self-reported smell and taste alterations and disorders were calculated and associations with risk factors, including COVID-19, and access to health care were examined using survey weighted logistic regression, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics. Results: Prevalence of smell and taste alterations have changed only modestly from prior estimates (23.1% in 2024 vs. 21.8% in 2021 and 22.3% in 2011-14 for smell and 15.0% in 2024 vs. 14.5% in 2021 and 17.8% in 2011-2014 for taste). Trends in smell and taste problems across risk factors were similar between 2024 and 2021. However, problems with smell and taste were more frequently reported among individuals with COVID-19 (52.1% and 42.5%, respectively) in 2021 compared to 2024 (24.4% and 16.1%, respectively), and the odds of a smell or taste problem for individuals with COVID-19 were 4-6 times the odds for individuals without COVID-19 in 2021 but only modestly elevated (25-33%) in 2024. Importantly, individuals who reported seeking health care declined from 2021 to 2024 (16.6% to 13.3% for smell, 24.3% to 19.5% for taste, both p<0.01). Conclusions: Smell and taste problems remain prevalent among adults, but a greater understanding of the post-pandemic environment on these disorders may help improve clinical management.
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