ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aims to explore the prevalence of anosmia and dysgeusia and their impact on COVID-19 patients. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between 1st October 2020 and 30th June 2021 were randomly selected from a national COVID-19 registry. The Anosmia Reporting Tool and a brief version of the questionnaire on olfactory disorders were used to measure the outcomes via telephone interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27 statistics software. Results: A total of 405 COVID-19 adults were included in this study, 220 (54.3%) were males and 185 (45.8%) were females. The mean±SD age of participants was 38.2 ± 11.3 years. Alterations in the sense of smell and taste were reported by 206 (50.9%), and 195 (48.1%) of the patients respectively. Sex and nationality of participants were significantly associated with anosmia and dysgeusia (p<0.001) and (p-value=0.001) respectively. Among patients who experienced anosmia and dysgeusia, alterations in eating habits (64.2%), impact on mental wellbeing (38.9%), concerns that the alterations were permanent (35.4%), and physical implications and difficulty performing activities of daily living (34% ) were reported. Conclusion: Anosmia and dysgeusia are prevalent symptoms of COVID-19 disease, especially among females. Neuropsychological implications of COVID-19 in the acute infection phase and prognosis of anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19 are areas for further exploration.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Acute Disease , Olfaction Disorders , DysgeusiaABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in mandatory isolation and quarantine. Although distinct in practice, they both involve the segregation of an individual for the purpose of infection prevention. Separation from loved ones, normal activities, and routines may result in dramatic, and long-lasting psychological impacts. The objective of this study is to describe and compare the psychological effect of COVID-19 isolation and quarantine.Methods: This is a cross-section retrospective cohort study. Telephone administered surveys for self-reported depression (CES-D), distress (IES-R), and perceived stigma (SS) were administered. There were 502 respondents: 301 isolated, 201 quarantined. Findings: The mean (SD) CES-D, IES-R and SS scores were 16.76 (5.65), 13.50 (14.67) and 25.29 (7.99), respectively. 40% (205/502) of participants showed clinically significant depression and less than 20% (98/502) had indications of some distress with greater depression and distress in those isolated compared to quarantined. Perceived stigma was reported by 53.4% (268/502) of participants, more prominent among those quarantined. Depression and post-traumatic stress scores were significantly higher in females, college students, those with history of mental health conditions, those knowing a COVID-19 fatality, and with social conflict. Age was a significant variable correlated with all three scales with younger participants displaying more distress, depression and stigma. Duration of segregation was significantly correlated with CES-D score showing more depressive symptoms as the duration of isolation increased. Significant predictors were age, gender, history of mental illness and COVID-19 status.Interpretation: Isolated and quarantined individuals reported depression, perceived stigma and to a lesser extent, distress. Psychological interventions identifying and targeting people with different severity of psychological burdens are in urgent need.Funding Statement: None.Declaration of Interests: None declared.Ethics Approval Statement: The study is approved by the National COVID-19 Research and Ethics Committee and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain's ethics committee.