Skip to main content
NUTRITION 2023 Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Back

Session: COVID-19 and Nutrition / Innovations in Telenutrition (Poster Theater Flash Session 10)

(PTFS10-02-23) The Impact of Smell Disorders on Nutrition-Related Quality of Life

Monday, July 24, 2023
4:09 PM – 4:13 PM ET
Location:  Fairfax
Disclosure(s):
Stephanie Hunter, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Objectives: Smell is an important component of the flavor of foods. Individuals with smell disorders often report that food is less flavorful and less enjoyable, and this negatively affects their quality of life. However, some individuals may be more significantly impacted by their smell disorder than others. Here, we assessed whether nutrition - related quality of life (QOL) was affected by age, sex, COVID-19 etiology, and type of smell disorder. The specific nutrition QOL aspects we assessed were nutrition (i.e., diet, weight loss, weight gain), eating habits (i.e., quantity, preferences, other changes), food choices (i.e., color, texture, temperatures), and appetite.

Methods: Data were collected April 6-28, 2022 using an online questionnaire administered to people throughout the United States with taste and/or smell disorders. A total of 5,318 participants (11% 18-24 years old, 30% 25-39 years old, 38% 40-60 years old, 21% 60 years old or older; 73% female; 88% white) completed the questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine differences in nutrition - related QOL by age, sex, COVID-19 etiology, and type of smell disorder.

Results: Overall, nutrition (62 vs. 43%), food choices (71 vs. 48%), eating habits (70 vs. 48%), and appetite (59 vs. 41%) were affected for females more than males, respectively (all p< 0.001). Eating habits (69 vs. 51%; p=0.03) and food choices (71 vs. 49%; p=0.02) were more affected in participants who were 40-60 years old than those who were 18-24 years old. Nutrition (63 vs. 41%) and appetite (60 vs. 38%) were more affected in those who had smell disorders from COVID-19 compared to those with smell disorders from other etiologies (p < 0.001 for both). Lastly, nutrition (83 vs. 55 vs 49%; p< 0.002), appetite (79 vs. 52 vs. 41%; p< 0.01), eating habits (89 vs. 65 vs. 49%; p< 0.002), and food choices (87 vs. 68 vs. 48%; p< 0.002) were more affected in those with parosmia (abnormal smell) compared to those with anosmia (total smell loss) and hyposmia (reduced sense of smell).

Conclusions: These results indicate that nutrition - related QOL is most affected in females, those 40-60, with smell disorders from COVID, and with parosmia. These results can help guide nutrition-related research and potential therapies for those most vulnerable.

Funding Sources: This work was supported by the PCORI Engagement Contract EASC #00261.