Long-term Use of Aspirin or Ibuprofen May Impact Olfaction among Elderly

In a recent study from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Sister Study, highlighted potential associations between long-term use of aspirin or ibuprofen and poor olfaction in older women who had not used other types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regularly.

The study, which involved 4,020 participants aged 50 to 79 years in 2018, selected from a pool of 36,492 eligible participants, focused on self-reported olfaction status. Of these, 3,406 women underwent the 12-item Brief Smell Identification Test to assess their olfactory function. Poor olfaction was defined as a test score of nine or less in the primary analysis.

The overall findings revealed no significant association between NSAID use and poor olfaction. However, researchers observed potential interactions that warranted further investigation. Specifically, the odds of poor olfaction were 1.8 times higher (95% CI: 1.1, 3.2) among women who regularly used aspirin but did not use other non-aspirin NSAIDs, compared to those who never used aspirin. Conversely, women who regularly used non-aspirin NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, showed a lower odds ratio of 0.8 (95% CI: 0.5, 1.2) for poor olfaction. These interactions were statistically significant (P for interaction = 0.016 for aspirin, P for interaction = 0.010 for ibuprofen).

Furthermore, the study indicated that among women using either aspirin or ibuprofen alone, the association with poor olfaction appeared to strengthen with increasing duration and cumulative dose of these medications. Notably, the associations between other NSAIDs and olfaction were not statistically significant.

The researchers emphasized that these findings are preliminary and should be independently confirmed through further research. However, they ruled out potential biases in their post-hoc analyses, lending credibility to the observed interactions.

Olfaction, the sense of smell, plays a crucial role in various aspects of human life, including detecting danger, enjoying food, and forming social connections. Any potential impact on olfactory function, especially in older adults, could have significant implications for their quality of life and well-being. As NSAIDs are widely used for pain relief and inflammation management, it is essential for healthcare professionals to be aware of these preliminary findings and consider them in patient care. 

Source:

Chamberlin, K. W., Li, C., Luo, Z., D’Aloisio, A. A., Pinto, J. M., Sandler, D. P., & Chen, H. (2023). Use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and poor olfaction in women. In International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/alr.23241