Characteristics associated with objective gustatory dysfunction in
patients with subjective chemosensory dysfunction
Abstract
Intro: Evaluation of gustatory dysfunction is important in
patients with subjective chemosensory dysfunction, especially for
geriatrics. This study investigated the clinical characteristics
associated with objective gustatory dysfunction in patients with
chemosensory dysfunction. Methods: The Medical records of
patients who visited the smell and taste center in a tertiary medical
center were reviewed. Patients who underwent all the psychophysical
olfactory and chemical gustatory function tests and the subjective
questionnaire about chemosensory function were enrolled in this study.
The clinical characteristics associated with the objective diagnosis of
gustatory dysfunction were statistically analyzed. Results: A
total of 219 patients were enrolled; 180 were objectively diagnosed as
having normal gustatory function, and 39 were objectively diagnosed as
having gustatory dysfunction. Subjective recognition of gustatory
function was not associated with objective gustatory function. Age, sex,
objective olfactory function, and the threshold and discrimination
scores for the olfactory function test were significant factors in the
multivariate analysis. When the patients were further divided according
to age, the threshold test scores rather than other subsets in the
olfactory function test were significantly associated with objective
gustatory dysfunction in patients 60 and older. Conclusion: In
older adult male patients with olfactory dysfunction, gustatory function
should be considered regardless of subjective gustatory dysfunction.