June 20, 2024

Loss of Smell May Indicate Increased Risk of Heart Failure, Study Suggests

About 64 million people globally suffer from heart failure, a condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood throughout the body. This can result from diseases that weaken the heart muscle, such as coronary heart disease, or from unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking and heavy alcohol consumption.

Recent research from Michigan State University indicates that a loss of the sense of smell might predict a person's risk of developing heart failure. This study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlights the potential of olfactory dysfunction as an early indicator of this condition.


Smell Loss and Its Relation to Health
The sense of smell often diminishes with age, with olfactory dysfunction becoming more common after age 60. Dr. Honglei Chen, a professor at Michigan State University and lead author of the study, notes that about a quarter of older adults experience smell impairment, though public awareness remains low, with only about 30% recognizing their condition.

Previous research has established a link between smell loss and conditions like dementia and Parkinson's disease. Emerging data, including findings from this study, suggest that olfactory dysfunction may also correlate with a higher risk of death, pneumonia, functional decline, and frailty among older adults.


Keran Chamberlin, a doctoral researcher at Michigan State University and the study's first author, adds that smell loss may affect cardiovascular health. Preliminary data indicate that subclinical cardiovascular changes might influence the sense of smell in older adults. Additionally, smell loss could negatively impact nutritional intake, mood, and daily activities, which in turn could compromise cardiovascular health over time, potentially contributing to heart failure.


Study Findings
The study analyzed data from approximately 2,500 individuals aged 70-79, who were part of the National Institute on Aging's Health ABC Study. These participants were followed for up to 12 years, starting from when their sense of smell was tested.

Researchers discovered that participants with olfactory loss had about a 30% increased risk of developing congestive heart failure compared to those without smell impairment. However, no link was found between smell loss and heart disease or stroke.

Dr. Chen expressed some surprise that the association was specific to heart failure and not to other cardiovascular conditions like coronary heart disease or stroke. He suggests that heart failure, being a more complex and advanced syndrome, might involve factors beyond atherosclerosis that smell loss could indicate.


Need for Further Research
Dr. Chen emphasizes that these findings are preliminary, and more research is needed to confirm the role of smell function as a marker for heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. Future studies should investigate this relationship in more diverse populations and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, a cardiologist not involved in the research, finds the results surprising. He notes that the sense of smell is not typically associated with heart function and suggests that the observed link might be due to concurrent aging processes. He calls for larger, longitudinal studies to validate this relationship and to identify potential underlying mechanisms.

Identifying factors that predict heart failure can enhance screening, intervention, and prevention strategies, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality associated with the condition.

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