Olfactory functioning in early multiple sclerosis: Sniffin’ Sticks Test study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of MS and control groups

Characteristics	MS	Control	P-value
Age in years: mean, ± SD (min–max)	34.3, ±9.8 (18–49)	35.8, ±9.2 (19–50)	0.526
Sex: n (% female)	21 (70%)	21 (70%)	0.241
Current smoking status: n (% smokers)	10 (33.3%)	9 (30%)	0.278
MMSE: mean, ± SD	29.03, ±2.22	29.97, ±0.18	0.025*
Disease duration in months: mean, ± SD	47.7, ±48
EDSS: mean, ± SD	1.91, ±1.57
Optic neuritis: n (%)	18 (60%)
Immunomodulatory therapy: n (%)	25 (83.3%)

Note:

* P<0.05.

Abbreviations: EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; max, maximum; min, minimum; MMSE, Mini–Mental State Examination; MS, multiple sclerosis; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Olfactory test scores for MS and control groups

Scores	MS	Control	P-value
OT: mean, ± SD	11.04, ±3.28	12.55, ±2.51	0.049*
OD: mean, ± SD	10.83, ±2.30	11.37, ±2.31	0.375
OI: mean, ± SD	11.60, ±2.50	11.97, ±1.97	0.531
TDI: mean, ± SD	33.4, ±6.35	35.89, ±5.48	0.129

Note:

* P<0.05.

Abbreviations: MS, multiple sclerosis; OD, odor discrimination; OI, odor identification; OT, odor threshold; SD, standard deviation; TDI, threshold discrimination identification.

Table 3 Correlations between age, MMSE and EDSS scores, disease duration, and olfactory test scores for patients with MS

Olfactory test scores	Age		MMSE scores		EDSS scores		Disease duration
	r	P-value	r	P-value	r	P-value	r	P-value
OT	−0.365	0.047*	0.229	0.223	−0.286	0.125	−0.127	0.505
OD	−0.237	0.207	0.385	0.036	−0.142	0.454	−0.261	0.164
OI	−0.412	0.024*	0.450	0.013*	−0.321	0.084	−0.161	0.395
TDI	−0.436	0.016*	0.435	0.016*	−0.325	0.079	−0.223	0.235

Note:

* P<0.05.

Abbreviations: EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; MMSE, Mini–Mental State Examination; MS, multiple sclerosis; OD, odor discrimination; OI, odor identification; OT, odor threshold; TDI, threshold discrimination identification.