Data related to the olfactory evaluation of leprosy patients

Background: The effect of leprosy on the sense of smell is not yet fully established. Studies that have relied only on patients’ perceptions may have under- or over-estimated the change in smell perception. A validated and psychophysical method is necessary to avoid these errors in assessment.
Objectives: This study aimed to validate the existence of olfactory involvement in leprosy patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional, controlled study was conducted, in which individuals with leprosy (exposed individuals) and individuals without leprosy (control patients) were recruited. For each exposed individual, we selected two control patients. A total of 108 patients (72 control patients and 36 exposed individuals) with no history of infection with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) took the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test(UPSIT).
Results: Most exposed individuals had olfactory dysfunction [n = 33, 91.7% (CI 95%: 77.5%–98.3%)] when compared with the control patients [n = 28, 38.9..., A cross-sectional, controlled study was conducted, in which individuals with leprosy (exposed individuals) and individuals without leprosy (control patients) were recruited. For each exposed individual (new cases sampled at the time of diagnosis and existing cases undergoing MDT), we selected two control patients. The study was conducted through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, which means that all cases of leprosy in the city of Londrina-PR, from  a period of 13 months betwen 2021-2022, were included in the study, provided that they met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and that the patients involved agreed to participate. A signed consent form was obtained from all patients before participation. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research Involving Human Beings at the State University of Londrina, CAAE: 42159420.0.0000.523. We excluded patients aged under 18 years, those who had olfactory disease caused by traumatic brain injury, radiation therapy to the face, and..., Stata (version 13.0, Statacorp Texas), Jamovi, and R studio were used for statistical analysis.