The use of University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in Italy

Neurol Sci. 2013 Aug 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Picillo M, Pellecchia MT, Erro R, Amboni M, Vitale C, Iavarone A, Moccia M, Allocca R, Orefice G, Barone P.

Source

Department of Neurological Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.

Abstract

Hyposmia is a common finding in Parkinson's disease (PD). The 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT-40) has been adapted and administered in several countries as a diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of PD. We have developed a culturally adapted version of the UPSIT-40 and applied it to 61 nondemented Italian controls and to 68 PD patients. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the factors that independently influence UPSIT-40 and logistic regression analysis was employed to study the usefulness of UPSIT-40 to predict PD diagnosis. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that PD diagnosis (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.006), gender (p = 0.003) and smoking status (p = 0.03) were significant independent predictors of the UPSIT-40 total score. Using diagnosis as dependent variable, logistic regression analysis showed that UPSIT-40 total score (p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of PD. Using a score ≤21/40 as a cut-off point for assigning subjects to PD group, the UPSIT-40 total score differentiated PD and control subjects with 82 % sensitivity and 88.2 % specificity. The adapted version of UPSIT-40 may be useful in addition to clinical examination to improve accuracy of diagnosis of PD in Italian population.