OLFACTORY TRAINING EFFICIENCY IN POST-COVID-19 PERSISTENT OLFACTORY DISORDERS (preprint)

ABSTRACT Background Persistent post-viral olfactory disorders (PPVOD) are widely reported after a COVID-19 and estimate to 30% one year after infection. Parosmias are the main qualitative dysosmia associated with olfaction recovery. No treatment is, to date, significantly efficient on PPVOD except olfactory training (OT). The main objective of this work was to evaluate OT efficiency on post-COVID-19 PPVOD. Methods Consecutive patients consulting to the ENT department with post-COVID-19 PPVOD were included after mainly clinical examination, the complete Sniffin’ Stick Test (TDI), the short version of the Questionnaire of olfactory disorders and the SF-36. Patients were trained to practice a self-olfactory training (professional manufactured olfactory training kit) twice a day for 6 months before coming back and undergo the same complete evaluation. Results Forty-three patients were included and performed 3,5 months of OT in average. There was a significant improvement in the mean TDI score increasing from 24,7 (±8,9) before the OT to 30,9 (±9,8) (p<0,001). Parosmias increased significantly from 8 (18,6%) to 27 (62.8%) (p<0,001). Based on normative data divided by sex and age, a significant increase in the number of normosmic participants was only found for the Threshold values (p<0,001). Specific and general olfaction-related quality of life improved after the OT. Conclusions OT seems to be efficient in post-COVID-19 PPVOD, probably on the peripheral regenerative part of the olfactory recovery. Future therapeutic strategies may focus on the central aspects of the post-COVID-19 PPVOD.

WHAT ABOUT USING SNIFFIN’ STICKS 12 SCREENING TEST TO IDENTIFY POST-COVID-19 OLFACTORY DISORDERS? (preprint)

ABSTRACT Background Olfactory impairment is a major sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection and has a negative impact on daily life quality. Olfactory loss can be assessed in many ways but seems to be little realized in a daily clinical practice. The sniffin Sticks test – 12 items (SST-12) can be used in quick olfactory disorders screening. Its use in a post-covid19 situation was the main objective of this work. Methodology Consecutive patients consulting to the ENT department with post-Covid-19 olfactory loss were included. The clinical examination included an analog scale for the self-assessment of olfactory recovery (VAS), self-reported salt and sugar intake, a nasofibroscopy, the complete Sniffin’ Stick Test (SST) and the SST-12. Results Among the 54 patients included, based on the SST-12, 14,8% (n=8) of the patients could be classified as normosmic (SST-12≥11), 48,1% (n=26) as hyposmic (6< SST-12<10) and 37% (n=20) as functional anosmic (SST-12≤6). We report excellent and significant correlations between SST-12 and SST or VAS assessments. Salt and Sugar increased intake seems significantly related to SST-12 results. Conclusions SST-12 is a reliable way to screen post-COVID-19 olfactory disorders could be used in a daily clinical practice and might be used to prevent bad diet habits and so cardiovascular risk.

Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 UK-variant in the South East of France: impact on COVID-19 patients age, comorbidity profiles and clinical presentation, week 50 2020 to week 8 2021 (preprint)

Abstract Objectives: The variant 20I/501Y.V1, associated to a higher risk of transmissibility, emerged in Nice city (South East of France, French Riviera) during January 2021. The pandemic has resumed late December 2020 in this aera. A high incidence rate together with a fast turn-over of the main circulating variants, provided us the opportunity to analyze modifications in clinical profile and outcome traits. Methods: Observational study in the University hospital of Nice from December 2020 to February 2021. We analyzed data of sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from the sewage collector and PCR screening from all positive samples at the hospital. Then, we described the characteristics of all COVID-19 patients admitted in the emergency department (ED) (n=1247) and those hospitalized in the infectious diseases ward or ICU (n=232). Demographic data, clinical signs and severity were documented by the NEWS-2, SAPS-2 and SOFA scores were recorded and analyzed. Results: the UK-variant was absent in the area in December, then increasingly spread in January representing 59% of the PCR screening performed mid-February. The rate of patients over 65 years admitted to the ED decreased from 63% to 50% (p=0.001). The mean age of hospitalized patients in the infectious diseases ward decreased from 70.7 to 59.2 (p<0.001) while the proportion of patients without comorbidity increased from 16% to 42% (p=0.007). Neither the NEWS-2 score nor the main signs of clinical severity have changed over time. Conclusion: Spread of the UK-variant in the South East of France affects younger and healthier patients.

Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 UK-variant in the South East of France: impact on COVID-19 patients age, comorbidity profiles and clinical presentation (preprint)

Objectives: The variant 20I/501Y.V1, associated to a higher risk of transmissibility, emerged in Nice city (South East of France, French Riviera) during January 2021. The pandemic has resumed late December 2020 in this aera. A high incidence rate together with a fast turn-over of the main circulating variants, provided us the opportunity to analyze modifications in clinical profile and outcome traits. Methods: : Observational study in the University hospital of Nice from December 2020 to February 2021. We analyzed data of sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from the sewage collector and PCR screening from all positive samples at the hospital. Then, we described the characteristics of all COVID-19 patients admitted in the emergency department (ED) (n=1247) and those hospitalized in the infectious diseases ward or ICU (n=232). Results: : the UK-variant was absent in this area in December, then increasingly spread in January representing 59% of the PCR screening performed mid-February. The rate of patients over 65 years admitted to the ED decreased from 63% to 50% (p=0.001). The mean age of hospitalized patients in the infectious diseases ward decreased from 70.7 to 59.2 (p<0.001) while the proportion of patients without comorbidity increased from 16% to 42% (p=0.007). Conclusion: Spread of the UK-variant in the South East of France affects younger and healthier patients.