Presentation Details
| Taste and Smell Disorders in the United States: Risk Factors and Healthy People 2030 Howard J.Hoffman1, Chuan-Ming Li1, Shristi Rawal2, Valerie B.Duffy3. 1Epidemiology, Statistics, and Population Sciences, NIDCD, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.2Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.3Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA |
Abstract
Healthy People (HP) 2030 is an initiative to promote improvements so all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being. Taste and smell disorders are common, increase with age, and can have major negative effects on health and quality of life. They can signal serious health problems important to identify early. When diagnosed, some taste and smell disorders can be managed with lifestyle changes, medication, oral health care, or surgery. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a nationally representative US sample, is used to assess the HP2030 objective HOSCD-12: increase the proportion of adults with smell or taste disorders who discuss the problem with a health care provider. We report findings from the 2021 NHIS Taste and Smell Supplement (adults 18+ years old; n=29,482). Logistic regression was used to estimate risk factors after adjusting for socio-demographic factors. Prevalence of COVID-19 history was 14.2%. Prevalence of disorders for taste was 13.3% (COVID-19: 41.3%) and for smell was 19.7% (COVID-19: 50.7%). Prevalence of either taste or smell disorders was 23.3% (COVID-19: 55.9%) and of both was 9.7% (COVID-19: 36.0%). In addition to COVID-19, other risk factors were poor general health, heart disease, anxiety or depression, asthma, dry mouth, cold/flu past year, prescription medications, allergy, hearing loss, and smoking; vaccination for COVID-19 reduced risk. Among adults 40+ years, 15.5% (COVID-19: 27.1%) had discussed smell/taste problems with a healthcare professional. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for evidence-based guidance for assessment, treatment, and management of smell/taste disorders. The HP2030 Taste and Smell objective baseline has been established using 2021 NHIS data and tracking measures will be obtained with NHIS 2024 and 2027.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.