嗅觉阈值可在非临床环境中通过Sniffin' Sticks可靠测试：在多样化的一般人群中显示的关联

文献信息

中文摘要

目的： Sniffin' Sticks测试的嗅觉阈值部分被广泛用于评估化学感觉功能，然而大多数研究是在受控的实验室或临床环境中对选择性样本进行的。本研究在一个大型、异质性样本中使用Sniffin' Sticks阈值测试检查了气味阈值表现，检验已确立的关联是否能在实验室外推广。
方法： 共有798名年龄在18-88岁之间的博物馆参观者完成了阈值测试，并评估了他们的嗅觉和味觉能力、鼻腔通畅度和敏感性。根据阈值分数，参与者被分类为嗅觉正常、嗅觉减退或嗅觉丧失。分析了与年龄、性别、健康状况、吸烟和饮酒的关联。
结果： 阈值表现与自评化学感觉能力呈正相关，与年龄呈负相关。女性表现出更高的表现、更高的自评能力以及比男性更好的鼻腔通畅度和敏感性。嗅觉正常的参与者更年轻，并报告比其他组，尤其是嗅觉减退个体，更高的功能。慢性疾病和鼻腔问题与较差的表现和较低的自评相关。吸烟与较低的自评嗅觉能力相关，但与阈值分数无关；自评饮酒未显示效果。嗅觉丧失和嗅觉减退的患病率与流行病学数据相当。
结论： Sniffin' Sticks阈值测试为在自然、非临床环境中评估嗅觉敏感性提供了一种有效且实用的工具。

英文摘要

OBJECTIVE: The olfactory threshold part of the Sniffin' Sticks test is widely used to assess chemosensory function, yet most studies are conducted in controlled laboratory or clinical environments with selective samples. This study examined odour threshold performance with the Sniffin' Sticks threshold test in a large, heterogenous sample, testing whether established associations generalise outside the lab.
METHOD: A total of 798 museum visitors aged 18-88 years completed the threshold test and rated their olfactory and gustatory ability, nasal patency, and sensitivity. Participants were classified as normosmic, hyposmic, or anosmic based on threshold scores. Associations with age, sex, health status, smoking, and alcohol use were analysed.
RESULTS: Threshold performance was positively associated with self-rated chemosensory ability and negatively with age. Women showed higher performance, greater self-rated ability, and better nasal patency and sensitivity than men. Normosmic participants were younger and reported higher function than other groups, especially hyposmic individuals. Chronic illness and nasal problems were linked to poorer performance and lower self-ratings. Smoking related to lower self-rated olfactory ability but not threshold scores; self-rated alcohol use showed no effect. The prevalence of anosmia and hyposmia was comparable to epidemiological data.
CONCLUSION: The Sniffin' Sticks threshold test provides a valid and practical tool for assessing olfactory sensitivity in naturalistic, non-clinical settings.