A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Taste Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Authors

Deborah X. Xie, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
Evelyn M. Leland, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
Stella M. Seal, Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
Sandra Y. Lin, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
Nicholas R. Rowan, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) often describe alterations in sense of taste. These complaints have historically been attributed to olfactory dysfunction; however, there is evidence of direct, objective, gustatory disturbances in the setting of CRS that are not thoroughly characterized. This study sought to investigate and summarize gustatory dysfunction experienced by patients with CRS. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were reviewed following PRISMA guidelines. English language, original studies investigating objective taste in adult patients with CRS were included. A meta-analysis with inverse variance, random-effects model was performed. RESULTS: Of 2750 studies screened, 11 articles with 471 unique patients were included. Patients with CRS exhibit worse gustatory function compared to healthy controls (standardized mean difference 0.94 [95% CI, 0.44-1.45]). Hypogeusia was identified in 32/95 (33.7%) patients from three studies that used methods with a validated definition of hypogeusia. Older age, male gender, and smoking history were associated with taste dysfunction, while objective gustatory and olfactory dysfunction were not correlated. Subjective taste and quality of life measures were also not associated with objective taste. The impact of sinus surgery on objective taste is unclear. CONCLUSION: Approximately 34% of patients with CRS experience hypogeusia. Neither olfactory function nor subjective taste were associated with objective gustatory function. Given the substantial prevalence of taste dysfunction patients with CRS, there is significant potential for growth in understanding of pathogenesis, impact on quality of life, and potential treatment strategies of taste impairment in the CRS patient population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Laryngoscope, 131:482-489, 2021.

Medical Subject Headings

Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Rhinitis (complications, physiopathology); Sinusitis (complications, physiopathology); Smell (physiology); Taste (physiology); Taste Disorders (epidemiology, etiology)

Publication Date

3-1-2021

Publication Title

The Laryngoscope

E-ISSN

1531-4995

Volume

131

Issue

3

First Page

482

Last Page

489

PubMed ID

32609889

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/lary.28827

Recommended Citation

Xie, Deborah X.; Leland, Evelyn M.; Seal, Stella M.; Lin, Sandra Y.; and Rowan, Nicholas R., "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Taste Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis" (2021). ENT and Skull Base Surgery. 25.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/ent-and-skull-base-surgery/25