Olfactory dysfunction in adult cystic fibrosis patients

Olfactory dysfunction is a frequent yet underrecognized manifestation of chronic rhinosinusitis in cystic fibrosis. Despite widespread reports of OD in CF, the impact of CFTR modulator therapy on smell outcomes remains unclear. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate olfactory function changes in CF-related CRS patients, as defined by EPOS2020, following 12 months of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor therapy, exploring clinical and biological correlates. From 120 ETI-treated CF patients at the University Hospital of Careggi, 45 adults diagnosed with CRS completed pre- and post-treatment assessments, including olfactory evaluation via the 16-item Sniffin’ Sticks Identification Test for its feasibility and longitudinal applicability.