Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1999 Jul;42(7):855-860.

Development of KVSS Test (Korean Version of Sniffin' Sticks Test)

• Hong SC
• Yoo YS
• Kim ES
• Kim SC
• Park SH
• Kim JK
• Kang SH

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As a society develops, olfactory disturbance increases with the increased industrial disaster, traffic accidents, upper respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis from air pollution, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease from aging process. Nevertheless, there is no practical clinical test of olfactory function in Korea. Authors decided to develop the "Korean olfactory test" using the odorants which are familiar to Koreans.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
KVSS Test (Korean Version of Sniffin' Sticks Test) is composed of KVSS Test I (screening test) and KVSS Test II (comprehensive test). KVSS Test I was performed on 120 controls with normosmia, 39 patients with hyposmia, and 24 patients with anosmia. KVSS Test II was performed on 117 controls with normosmia, 29 patients with hyposmia, and 22 patients with anosmia. The subjects ranged in ages from 20 to 69 years.
RESULTS
In KVSS Test I, the range of scores (smell test) was 5.36-7.34 in normosmia, 3.41-6.73 in hyposmia, and 1.14-3.16 in anosmia. In KVSS Test II, the range of T.D.I. score (the sum of olfactory threshold score, odor discrimination score, and odor identification score) was 25.98-35.48 in normosmia, 17.01-30.63 in hyposmia, and 7.32-14.06 in anosmia (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
It is concluded that KVSS Test I and II are suitable for the routine clinical assessment of olfactory performance in Koreans.

Keyword

KVSS Test; Normosmia; Hyposmia; Anosmia

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Aging
Air Pollution
Alzheimer Disease
Disasters
Discrimination (Psychology)
Humans
Korea
Odors
Olfaction Disorders
Parkinson Disease
Respiratory Tract Infections
Rhinitis
Sinusitis