Detecting heart disease with smell

A smell test may predict the likelihood of later developing coronary heart disease.

In a retrospective study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, investigators used a 12-item smell identification test in a group of more than 5,000 community-dwelling older adults who participated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

After a follow-up of just under 10 years, the investigators identified 280 incident coronary heart disease events. They found that the participants who scored poorly on the olfactory test had a greater risk of experiencing coronary heart disease. However, by Year 7, the risk was significantly diminished.

Further studies are warranted to validate the results and better understand the potential mechanisms responsible for the association between poor olfaction and coronary heart disease.

Read more: JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

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