Liu Jie, Lv Chaolan, Wu Dandan, Wang Ying, Sun Chenyu, Cheng Ce, Yu Yue
Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
South District of Endoscopic Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2021 Sep 18;2021:5491188. doi: 10.1155/2021/5491188. eCollection 2021.
Patients with functional constipation (FC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often report psychological abnormalities and decreased eating enjoyment. Several patients also complain of changes in the sense of smell and taste, but these are often disregarded clinically.
Therefore, there is a need to determine whether taste/smell disturbances and psychological abnormalities are present in patients with FC or IBS and whether these are related to the severity of lower gastrointestinal symptoms.
A total of 337 subjects were recruited, including FC ( = 115), IBS ( = 126), and healthy controls ( = 96). All participants completed questionnaires evaluating taste and smell (taste and smell survey (TSS)), Lower Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (LGSRS), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD). TSS recorded information on the nature of taste and smell changes (TSCs) and the impact of these changes on the quality of life. LGSRS was used to assess the severity of lower gastrointestinal symptoms; HAMA and HAMD scales were used to reflect the psychosocial state. This study protocol was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR-2100044643).
Firstly, we found that taste and smell scores were higher in patients with IBS than in healthy controls. Secondly, for FC and IBS patients, LGSRS was significantly correlated with the taste score (Spearman's rho = 0.832, < 0.001). LGSRS was also significantly correlated with HAMA (Spearman's rho = 0.357, = 0.017) and HAMD (Spearman's rho = 0.377, = 0.012). In addition, the taste score was significantly correlated with HAMD (Spearman's rho = 0.479, = 0.001), while the smell score was also significantly correlated with HAMD (Spearman's rho = 0.325, = 0.031). Thirdly, 60.87% and 71.43% of patients complained of taste abnormality, while 65.22% and 71.43% had smell abnormality in the FC and IBS groups, respectively. Meanwhile, 47.83% and 47.62% of patients suffered from anxiety, while 43.48% and 57.14% suffered from depression in the FC and IBS groups, respectively. Finally, we found significant differences in the taste, smell, HAMD, and LGSRS scores between the female and male IBS groups ( < 0.050).
TSCs and psychological disorders are prominent in FC and IBS patients. Taste abnormalities, as well as anxiety and depression, are significantly correlated with LGSRS. Awareness of this high prevalence of taste/smell abnormalities and the psychological changes among patients with FC and IBS may help better predict and understand the severity of symptoms.
功能性便秘（FC）和肠易激综合征（IBS）患者常报告有心理异常及进食愉悦感下降。一些患者还抱怨嗅觉和味觉发生改变，但临床上这些情况常被忽视。
因此，有必要确定FC或IBS患者是否存在味觉/嗅觉障碍及心理异常，以及这些是否与下消化道症状的严重程度相关。
共招募337名受试者，包括FC患者（n = 115）、IBS患者（n = 126）和健康对照者（n = 96）。所有参与者均完成了评估味觉和嗅觉的问卷（味觉和嗅觉调查（TSS））、下消化道症状评分量表（LGSRS）、汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HAMA）和汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）。TSS记录了味觉和嗅觉变化（TSCs）的性质以及这些变化对生活质量的影响。LGSRS用于评估下消化道症状的严重程度；HAMA和HAMD量表用于反映心理社会状态。本研究方案已在中国临床试验注册中心注册（注册号：ChiCTR - 2100044643）。
首先，我们发现IBS患者的味觉和嗅觉评分高于健康对照者。其次，对于FC和IBS患者，LGSRS与味觉评分显著相关（斯皮尔曼等级相关系数rho = 0.832，P < 0.001）。LGSRS也与HAMA显著相关（斯皮尔曼等级相关系数rho = 0.357，P = 0.017）和HAMD显著相关（斯皮尔曼等级相关系数rho = 0.377，P = 0.012）。此外，味觉评分与HAMD显著相关（斯皮尔曼等级相关系数rho = 0.479，P = 0.001），而嗅觉评分也与HAMD显著相关（斯皮尔曼等级相关系数rho = 0.325，P = 0.031）。第三，FC组和IBS组分别有60.87%和71.43%的患者抱怨味觉异常，同时分别有65.22%和71.43%的患者有嗅觉异常。同时，FC组和IBS组分别有47.83%和47.62%的患者患有焦虑症，分别有43.48%和57.14%的患者患有抑郁症。最后，我们发现IBS组男女之间在味觉、嗅觉、HAMD和LGSRS评分上存在显著差异（P < 0.050）。
TSCs和心理障碍在FC和IBS患者中较为突出。味觉异常以及焦虑和抑郁与LGSRS显著相关。认识到FC和IBS患者中味觉/嗅觉异常及心理变化的高发生率可能有助于更好地预测和理解症状的严重程度。
