Analysis of the Correct-Answer Rate of the Odor Identification Test in KVSS(Korean Version of Sniffin'Sticks) Test

An, Soo Youn; Kong, Il Gyu; Lee, Chul Hee; Kim, Jeong Whun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: KVSS (Korean Version of Sniffin' Sticks) identification test using 16 odorants familiar to Koreans is used for evaluation of olfactory function. We analyzed the correct-answer rate of the odor identification test among KVSS test to validate the reliability of these odorants.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
From April 2004 through August 2006, 720 patients underwent an odor identification test and from these, 441 patients who scored more than 9 were included. The score groups were divided into 4 groups: more than 9, 10, 11 and 12 score group. The age groups were divided into 4 groups: 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, 60 and more than 60 year-olds. The differences in the correct-answer rates of the odorant were investigated according to the score groups, age groups and sex were calculated using SPSS software.
RESULTS
The odorant 6 (lemon), 7 (licorice), 8 (pine resin), and 11 (apple) showed low correct-answer rates than other odorants. Especially the correct-answer rates of odorant 7 and 11 were significantly lower than other odorants except odorant 6 and 8 in all score groups, in all age groups and both sex (p< or =.001).
CONCLUSION
In the odor identification test, odorants 7 and 11 had low reliabililty for evaluation of the olfactory function, maybe due to unfamiliar odorants to Koreans or test pen failure and they had better be changed into more reliable odorants. For that, we need further investigations about KVSS test before widely used.