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COVID-19–Related Olfactory Dysfunction Associated with Major Depressive Disorder Likelihood

by Linda Kossoff •

How do clinical characteristics and olfactory-related quality of life (QoL) measures associate with the likelihood for major depressive disorders (MDDs)?

BOTTOM LINE

COVID-19–related olfactory dysfunction (OD) might be associated with a higher likelihood for MDDs; the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) might help predict symptoms of depression in OD patients.

BACKGROUND: Previously linked to MDD, smell loss became a public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, negatively impacting patients’ QoL. Associations between olfactory-related QoL measures and depressive symptom risk have not been evaluated in all instances, and the primary MDD drivers in patients with OD is not fully understood.

SYNOPSIS: Researchers identified 192 patients with subjective smell loss. Fifty-three were classified as COVID- 19–related OD, 52 idiopathic, 40 postinfectious, 18 posttraumatic, 13 sinonasal, six iatrogenic, and four smell loss. Also included were three cases of neurode – generative and three cases of congenital OD. Olfactory function was measured with Sniffin’ Sticks; QoL was evaluated with the QOD-negative and QOD-positive statement. MDD likelihood was assessed with the Patients Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Researchers found that the QOD-negative was positively associated with the PHQ-2, indicating association between higher burden of smell loss in daily life and higher MDD likelihood. Sinonasal smell loss was positively associated with the PHQ-2, indicating that sinonasal smell loss might be associated with a higher MDD likelihood. A subanalysis omitting QoL measures showed that only COVID- 19–related OD (compared to postinfectious OD) was significantly associated with MDD likelihood. The QOD-negative score is an accurate indicator for higher risk of depressive symptoms. Authors note that findings provide a means for assessing depression symptoms in OD patients by querying for MDD in those with lower olfactory-related QoL. Study limitations included use of a screening tool only, rather than screening and former depression diagnosis.

CITATION: Liu DT, Prem B, Sharma G, et al. Depression symptoms and olfactory-related quality of life. Laryngoscope. 2022;132:1829–1834.