Abstract
Introduction
Prescription medication use may be associated with phantom odor perception. We evaluated associations between number of prescription medications and their therapeutic class and phantom odor perception among US adults.
Methods
Data were collected between 2011 and 2014 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A complex sampling design resulted in a nationally representative sample of 7417 adults aged 40 years and older. During an in-home interview, participants were asked whether they had experienced an unpleasant, bad, or burning odor when nothing is there. Prescription medication use was assessed using validation with prescription bottles, when possible.
Results
Almost one quarter (23.3%) of adults uses ≥ 5 prescription medications. Use of five or more prescription medications is associated with 70% greater odds of phantom odor perception (OR 1.69 (1.09, 2.63)). Among adults 60 years and older, antidiabetic medications, antihyperlipidemic agents, and proton pump inhibitors are associated with 74–88% greater odds of report of phantom odor (OR = 1.74 (1.09, 2.77), OR = 1.85 (1.22. 2.80), and OR = 1.88 (1.15, 3.07)), respectively.
Conclusions
Phantom odor perception may be a side effect of antidiabetic or antihyperlipidemic agents. Among people taking proton pump inhibitors, phantom odors may also be a consequence of gastric gas reflux.
Implications
Common prescription medications may be providing an olfactory stimulus.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr. Debara Tucci, National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, for helpful comments.
Funding
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders provided support for NHANES chemosensory data collection via Interagency Agreement funding with the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Connecticut. Support for the statistical analysis was provided by Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. under Contract No. GS-00F-173CA, Task Order HHSN275201700074U.
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Data collection for NHANES is approved by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Research Ethics Review Board (ERB). Analysis of de-identified data from this national survey is exempt from federal regulaations for the protection of human research participants. All analyses were performed on publicly available data.
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Bainbridge, K.E., Byrd-Clark, D. Prescription Medication Use and Phantom Odor Perception Among US Adults. Chem. Percept. 13, 152–158 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12078-019-09276-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12078-019-09276-6