ABSTRACT
Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Adolescent , SARS-CoV-2 , Smell , COVID-19/complications , Cross-Sectional Studies , COVID-19 Vaccines , Incidence , Olfaction Disorders/etiology , Taste Disorders/etiology , PrognosisABSTRACT
Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of intermittent inhaled corticosteroids (ICS, test group) and routine ICS (control group) treatment strategy for asthma in children. Methods Databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials. gov and Chinese Biomedical Literature were searched for relevant studies published from 1980 to 2013. Results Using the predefined key words, we identified 943 citations, and finally 4 parallel-designed, prospective, randomized controlled studies (5 comparison groups) were included in this meta-analysis. We found thatthere were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of incidence of asthma exacerbations (OR: 1. 25, 95 %CI: 0. 87-1. 78, P = 0. 22), re-hospitalization rate(0R: 0.85, 95%CI:0. 28-2. 57, P = 0. 77), improvement of symptoms and life quality (WMD: 0.02, 95% CI: -0.19-0.23, P = 0. 88), or incidence of overall severe adverse events (0R; 0.81, 95 %CI:0. 30-2. 17, P = 0. 67). However, improvement of the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in the control group was significantly greater than that in the test group (WMD: 2.76, 95%CI:0. 69-4. 82, P = 0. 009), and the increase of body height in the test group was significantly greater than (by0. 51 cm) that inthe control group (WMD: -0. 51, 95%CI: -0. 87--0. 16, P = 0. 005). Heterogeneity analysis showed that the studies had good homogeneity. Conclusion The as-needed ICS and routine ICS have similar efficacy in treatment of child asthma. Routine ICS can greatly improve the PEFR, but it may have an adverse impact on the body height of Children.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To explore the time regularity of nasal mucous transitional course of different sinuses after functional endoscopic sinus surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-seven chronic rhinosinusitis patients following functional endoscopic sinus surgery were prospectively collected. The endoscopic appearances of different sinuses were respectively evaluated with Lund-Kennedy scoring system in 2 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Then the endoscopic scores and epithelization proportions of different sinuses in different stages were analyzed and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 77 patients, 154 maxillary sinuses, 154 ethmoidal sinuses, 138 frontal sinuses, and 129 sphenoidal sinuses were scored endoscopically and analyzed statistically. In the 2 weeks after operation, the mucosa scores of sphenoidal sinus (3.5 ± 1.5), ethmoidal sinus (3.6 ± 1.4), maxillary sinus (3.7 ± 1.5), and frontal sinus (3.8 ± 1.5) showed no significant differences by no parameter tests (χ(2) = 1.674, P = 0.643). In the 2, 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively, the assessment of four kinds of sinuses showed separate transitional tendency and the descending deflection points of scores and ascending peaks of epithelization proportions gradually emerged. In the 12 months postoperatively, by the above statistical methods, the mucosal scores (Z = -3.417, P = 0.001) and epithelization proportions (χ(2) = 4.313, P = 0.038) of sphenoidal sinus were superior to that of ethmoidal sinus, the mucosal scores (Z = -2.218, P = 0.027) and epithelization proportions (χ(2) = 4.292, P = 0.038) of ethmoidal sinus were superior to that of maxillary sinus, and the mucosal scores (Z = -2.244,P = 0.025) and epithelization proportions (χ(2) = 4.100, P = 0.043) of maxillary sinus were superior to that of frontal sinus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The transitional course of different sinus mucosa after functional endoscopic sinus surgery shows significant time difference. The time sequencing to complete epithelization of sinuses is successively sphenoidal sinus, ethmoidal sinus, maxillary sinus, and frontal sinus.</p>