Investigation of smell and taste function in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Yenıgun A., Degırmencı N., Goktas S., Dogan R., Ozturan O.

The Journal of laryngology and otology, vol.133, pp.376-379, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 133
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1017/s0022215119000768
  • Journal Name: The Journal of laryngology and otology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.376-379
  • Keywords: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Sense of Smell, Taste Sense, Inflammation, SOFT PALATAL MUCOSA, VIBRATION, NEUROPATHY, SENSATION, APNOICS, SNORERS, DISEASE
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective This study investigated the relationship between disease severity and taste and smell functions in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Methods A total of 65 patients with recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep were included. Participants were divided into four groups according to apnoea-hypopnoea index, obtained on polysomnography. Smell and taste tests were performed on these patients. Results A significant difference was observed between the smell thresholds of the groups for the identification test (p = 0.016). In the taste test, significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of sweet, sour, salty and bitter taste test thresholds (p = 0.029, p = 0.0005, p = 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusion As sleep apnoea severity increased (according to the apnoea-hypopnoea index) in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients, the taste and smell thresholds decreased due to the effect of neuropathy and inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.