The Toronto Concussion Study: Sense of smell is not associated with concussion severity or recovery.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine sense of smell as a biomarker for both severity and duration of post-concussion symptoms.

METHODS:

Participants were recruited prospectively from an outpatient concussion clinic. Sense of smell was assessed using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) within 7 days, and 4, 8 - or 16-weeks post-injury. UPSIT normative data were used as normal controls. The main outcomes were: symptom severity on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3) symptom inventory and time to physician-declared recovery.

RESULTS:

A total of 167 participants (mean age 32.9 [SD, 12.2] years, 59% female [n = 99]) were classified at 1 week post injury as follows: severe hyposmia in 5 (3%), moderate hyposmia in 10 (6%), mild hyposmia in 48 (29%), and normosmia in 104 (62%) individuals. A convenience sample of 81 individuals with concussion were tested at follow-up. Acute impairment of sense of smell following concussion was not associated with symptom severity on the SCAT3 or time to recovery. Sense of smell was stable from baseline to follow-up in this population.

CONCLUSION:

This study provides evidence that routine testing of sense of smell in individuals with concussion is not warranted as a biomarker for severity of concussion and concussion recovery.

• Authors: Evan Foster, Mark Bayley, Laura Langer, Cristina Saverino, Tharshini Chandra, Claire Barnard, Paul Comper
• Journal: Brain injury (Brain Inj) Vol. 36 Issue 6 Pg. 759-767 (05 12 2022) ISSN: 1362-301X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35171730 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Anosmia
• Athletic Injuries (complications)
• Brain Concussion (complications, diagnosis)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Post-Concussion Syndrome (complications, etiology)
• Smell
• Sports