What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore how the duration and intensity of tobacco smoking affect olfactory function.

February 2, 20260 citationsOpen Access

Association between duration or intensity of tobacco smoking and olfactory function: A cross-sectional study among smokers willing to quit smoking

CWCornelia Wälchli VGValerie Grünig KTKalí Tal

Key Points

This research aims to explore how the duration and intensity of tobacco smoking affect olfactory function.
Participants were adult smokers in a smoking cessation trial.
Olfactory function was measured using the Burghart's Sniffin' Sticks test.
Multivariable regression models assessed the relationship between olfactory function and smoking history.
About 12% of smokers exhibited olfactory dysfunction.
Olfactory dysfunction was linked to pack-years of smoking, with higher pack-years correlating to worse olfactory function.
Olfactory identification scores were negatively associated with pack-years but not significantly with years of smoking or cigarettes per day.

Abstract

Introduction: A range of studies suggests that people who smoke tobacco have impaired olfactory function, but few have explored the association between smoking history, such as duration or intensity, and olfactory function. We aimed to determine the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction among adult smokers and to test the association between duration or intensity of smoking and olfactory function. Methods: For this cross-sectional study we consecutively invited adult smokers, participating in a smoking cessation trial conducted in five Swiss study sites, to undergo olfactory function testing at baseline from September 2020 to June 2021. We tested olfactory function with the Burghart's Sniffin' Sticks 16-item identification test resulting in an olfactory identification score (OIS) of 0-16 points. We defined olfactory dysfunction as an OIS ≤11 points. We fitted multivariable regression models to test the association between the OIS or olfactory dysfunction and self-reported smoking parameters cigarettes per day (CPD), years of smoking (YOS) and pack-years adjusted for relevant confounders such as demographics, substance use and comorbidities. Results: Of 388 eligible participants, 375 (96.7%) completed the olfactory testing. Mean age was 39.0 years (SD=13.2), and 44.8% identified as women. The participants smoked on average 15 (SD=7.1) cigarettes per day for a median duration of 18 years (IQR: 11-28). Mean OIS was 13.3 (SD=1.8) and 12.0% had olfactory dysfunction. Olfactory dysfunction was significantly associated with pack-years (OR=1.03; 95% CI: 1.00-1.05) but not with YOS or CPD. OIS was negatively associated with pack-years (coefficient= -11.11; 95% CI: -4.29 - -17.94). OIS was not significantly associated with YOS or CPD. Conclusions: Among smokers smoking ≥5 cigarettes per day participating in a smoking cessation trial, about one in ten had olfactory dysfunction. Higher number of pack-years were associated with a worse measure of olfactory function and with olfactory dysfunction. Clinical trial registration: This sub-study of the ESTxENDS trial is pre-registered on the official website of ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT04617444.

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