Abstract
Objectives
We assessed the association between impaired olfaction and depressive symptoms and poor quality of life.
Methods
A total of 1,375 participants aged 60 years or older had their olfaction measured using the San Diego Odor Identification Test. Quality of life was assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Depressive symptoms were assessed by either the SF-36, which included the Mental Health Index, and/or the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10).
Results
Among participants with olfactory impairment, 15.4% and 20.2% had depressive symptoms assessed by the Mental Health Index and CES-D-10, respectively. Among participants aged 70 years or older, olfactory impairment was associated with depressive symptoms (assessed by the CES-D-10), multivariate-adjusted odds ratio, OR: 1.66 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.03–2.66). Subjects with olfactory impairment compared to those without, had lower SF-36 scores in six out of the eight indices.
Conclusions
Olfactory impairment was independently associated with depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life.
We assessed the association between impaired olfaction and depressive symptoms and poor quality of life.
Methods
A total of 1,375 participants aged 60 years or older had their olfaction measured using the San Diego Odor Identification Test. Quality of life was assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Depressive symptoms were assessed by either the SF-36, which included the Mental Health Index, and/or the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10).
Results
Among participants with olfactory impairment, 15.4% and 20.2% had depressive symptoms assessed by the Mental Health Index and CES-D-10, respectively. Among participants aged 70 years or older, olfactory impairment was associated with depressive symptoms (assessed by the CES-D-10), multivariate-adjusted odds ratio, OR: 1.66 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.03–2.66). Subjects with olfactory impairment compared to those without, had lower SF-36 scores in six out of the eight indices.
Conclusions
Olfactory impairment was independently associated with depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 830-834 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Blue Mountains Eye Study
- depressive symptoms
- olfactory impairment
- older adults
- quality of life
- SF-36