Previous studies on the relationship between olfaction and depression have revealed mixed results. In addition, few have focused on the reciprocity of this association. The aim of this study is to combine depression and olfactory data in two separate patient populations to further understand their association. A systematic literature review was conducted using 3 online databases to identify studies correlating olfaction and depression in patients presenting with either primary depression or primary olfactory dysfunction. For the depressed population, weighted means and standard deviations for the Sniffin' Sticks Test and the 40-item Smell Identification Test were combined using 10 studies. For the olfactory dysfunction population, weighted means of Beck's Depression Inventory were combined using 3 studies. Independent t-tests were used to compare differences between groups. Comparing primary depressed patients with controls, depressed patients showed decreased scores in olfactory threshold (6.31±1.38 vs. 6.78±0.88, P = 0.0005), discrimination (12.05±1.44 vs. 12.66±1.36, P = 0.0073), identification (12.57±0.74 vs. 12.98±0.90, P < 0.0001), and 40-Item Smell Identification Test (35.31±1.91 vs. 37.41±1.45, P < 0.0001). In patients with primary olfactory dysfunction, Beck's Depression Inventory scores were significantly different between patients classified as normosmics, hyposmics and anosmics (5.21±4.73 vs. 10.93±9.25 vs. 14.15±5.39, P ≤ 0.0274 for all 3 comparisons). In conclusion, patients with depression have reduced olfactory performance when compared with the healthy controls and conversely, patients with olfactory dysfunction, have symptoms of depression that worsen with severity of smell loss.

Hearing loss is prevalent in patients with EDS. The hearing loss is equally of conductive and sensorineural origin, with a predisposition to be bilateral. Further evaluation of the underlying pathology of hearing loss in these patients is warranted to aid otolaryngologists and audiologists in diagnosis and management.

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4 Laryngoscope, 126:2036-2040, 2016.

This study sought to examine if modern medical evaluations including newborn screening and early diagnosis along with better methods of disease control have improved rates of hearing loss in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Audiometric and medical data for patients with SCD was obtained from the AudGen Database and analyzed for the presence of hearing loss, type of hearing loss, severity of hearing loss, and correlation with comorbid conditions. Children with sickle cell trait (SCT) were used as a comparison group. A total of 189 patients with SCD and 244 patients with SCT had sufficient audiologic data available. Hearing loss was present in 62% of children with SCD and 50% of children with SCT in the study population. Patients with SCD were significantly more likely than those with SCT to have a sensorineural component to their hearing loss (P<0.001, odds ratio: 2.41 [1.53 to 3.79]) and to have severe or profound hearing loss (P=0.02, odds ratio: 4.00 [1.14 to 14.04]). The true prevalence of hearing loss in children with SCD has not been established as routine screening is not being performed. Routine auditory testing should be done for these children to detect this loss before it impacts development.

No abstract