Olfactory Impairment and Depression

What is the association between objective and subjective olfactory impairment and depression in population-based studies, and does it differ across subgroups?In this systematic review and meta-analysis involving 23 studies representing 17 independent cohorts for a total of 187 056 individuals, subjective olfactory impairment was associated with higher odds of depression, whereas objective olfactory impairment showed a weaker odds ratio that was attenuated after adjustment for publication bias. In subgroup analysis, objective impairment remained associated with depression among older adults and individuals with anosmia.Subjective olfactory impairment is consistently associated with depression, while objective impairment shows associations mainly in aging and anosmic subgroups, suggesting partly distinct underlying mechanisms.

Corresponding Author: Henry Bode, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, University Hospital St Pölten, Dunant-Platz 1, Kremser Landstraße 40, 3100 St Pölten, Austria (henry.bode@ki.se).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.