Sponsor
This work was supported by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (grant numbers: BESWIC20A0, BESWIC22Y5, TAYLOR19A0).
Published In
International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-13-2026
Subjects
Chronic rhinosinustis, Endoscopic sinus surgery, Medical therapy of chronic rhinosinusitis, Olfaction -- Olfactory disorders, Olfactory test
Abstract
Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS) and olfactory dysfunction (OD) are highly prevalent among people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) and negatively impact quality of life. The 40-item Smell Identification Test (SIT) is widely used to assess psychophysical olfaction, but a CF-specific minimal clinically important difference (MCID) has not been established. This study aimed to determine the SIT MCID in PwCF treated with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) and/or endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Methods: Data from three prospective, multi-institutional observational studies were pooled. Participants were ≥12 years old with confirmed CF and CRS who completed SIT at baseline and ≥1 follow-up (3, 6, 9, 12, or 24 months). Distribution-based MCIDs were calculated using four methods: standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC = 1.96 × SEM), 0.5 × baseline standard deviation (SD), and 0.5 × SD of change scores (ΔSD). Results: A total of 122 participants were enrolled (mean age 32.9 years, 54% female). Of these, 99 contributed follow-up SIT scores (79 ETI, 20 ESS). SIT scores remained stable with ETI, with a small but statistically significant decline at 6 months.
Rights
Copyright (c) 2026 The Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1002/alr.70136
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44544
Citation Details
Oh, E., Miller, J. E., Lee, M. J., Zemke, A., Baraghoshi, D., Strand, M. J., Alt, J. A., Bodner, T. E., Chang, M., Chowdhury, N. I., Eshaghian, P. H., Getz, A. E., Goralski, J. L., Gudis, D. A., Hwang, P. H., Khanwalkar, A., Kimple, A. J., Lee, J. T., Li, D. A., … Beswick, D. M. (2026). Determining the Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the 40‐Item Smell Identification Test in People With Cystic Fibrosis. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. Portico.