Description

For sample adults 18+ who have moderate difficulty, a lot of difficulty, or cannot smell at all (SMELLDIFF) OR their ability of smell is worse compared to age 25 (or 5 years ago)(SMELLPAST) OR sometimes smell an unpleasant odor when nothing was there (SMELLODOR) OR have moderate difficulty, a lot of difficulty, or cannot taste at all (TASTEDIFF) OR their ability to taste is worse compared to age 25 (or 5 years ago) (TASTECHG) OR their ability to taste flavors is worse compared to age 25 (or 5 years ago) (TASTEID) OR has had an unwanted taste in their mouth that does not go away (TASTEUNWANT), TSTSMDOC indicates if they have spoken to a doctor or health professional about it.

In 2021, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) sponsored several questions relating to difficulties with taste or smell. According to the CAPI Manual for NHIS Field Representatives, these questions were asked to provide baseline data on the prevalence of smell and taste disorders in the population. These data will be used to provide measures of progress toward the Healthy People 2030 initiative to increase the number of people who have taste/smell disorders who discuss them with their healthcare provider. In addition to the variables above, NIDCD sponsored three other questions related to taste and smell, as well as several questions focused on taste and smell in those diagnosed with Covid-19:

• TSTSMDOCWHN: How long it has been since respondent discussed problems with taste or smell with their doctor

• FLUCOLDM: Whether the respondent had a cold or flu for more than a month in the last 12 months

• DENPDRYM: Whether the respondent had persistent dry mouth over the last 12 months

• CVDLOSESMELL: Whether the respondent lost sense of smell due to Covid-19

• CVDRECSMELL: Whether the respondent recovered their sense of smell

• CVDLOSETASTE: Whether the respondent lost sense of taste due to Covid-19

• CVDRECTASTE: Whether the respondent recovered their sense of taste

Comparability

There are no comparability issues for this variable.

Universe

Availability

• 2021

Weights

• 2021 : SAMPWEIGHT