Altundağ Aytuğ, Salihoglu Murat, Çayönü Melih, Cingi Cemal, Tekeli Hakan, Hummel Thomas
Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Istanbul Surgery Hospital, Sisli, 34365, Istanbul, Turkey,
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2014 Mar;271(3):615-8. doi: 10.1007/s00405-013-2823-3. Epub 2013 Nov 20.
It is known that high-altitude trips cause nasal congestion, impaired nasal mucociliary transport rate, and increased nasal resistance, due to decreased partial oxygen pressure and dry air. It is also known that olfactory perception is affected by barometric pressure and humidity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether olfactory function changes in relation to high altitude in a natural setting. The present study included 41 volunteers with no history of chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis. The study group consisted of 31 men (76 %) and 10 women (24 %); the mean age of the study population was 38 ± 10 years. Olfactory testing was conducted using "Sniffin' Sticks" at a high altitude (2,200 ms) and at sea level. Odor test scores for threshold and identification were significantly better at sea level than at high altitude (p < 0.001). The major finding of this investigation was that olfactory functions are decreased at high altitudes.
众所周知，由于氧分压降低和空气干燥，高海拔旅行会导致鼻塞、鼻黏膜纤毛运输速率受损以及鼻阻力增加。还已知嗅觉感知受气压和湿度影响。本研究的目的是调查在自然环境中嗅觉功能是否会随着海拔高度而变化。本研究纳入了41名无慢性鼻窦炎或鼻息肉病史的志愿者。研究组由31名男性（76%）和10名女性（24%）组成；研究人群的平均年龄为38±10岁。在高海拔（2200米）和海平面使用“嗅觉棒”进行嗅觉测试。阈值和识别的气味测试分数在海平面显著优于高海拔（p<0.001）。本调查的主要发现是高海拔地区嗅觉功能下降。
