ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Chemosensory loss is a common symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has been associated with a milder clinical course in younger patients. Whereas several studies have confirmed this association, knowledge about the improvement and recovery of olfactory and gustatory loss is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal dynamics of improvement and recovery from sudden olfactory and gustatory loss in patients with confirmed and suspected COVID-19. METHODS: Subjective chemosensory function, symptoms of COVID-19, COVID-19 tests results, demographics and medical history were collected through a questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 109 study participants, 95 had a combined olfactory and gustatory loss, five participants had isolated olfactory loss and nine participants has isolated taste loss. The mean age of participants was 39.4 years and 25% of participants were under the age of 30 years. Young age was not associated with a higher recovery rate. After a mean time of > 30 days since the chemosensory loss, participants reported relatively low recovery and improvement rates. For participants with olfactory loss, only 44% had fully recovered, whereas 28% had not yet experienced any improvement of symptoms. After gustatory loss, 50% had fully recovered, whereas 20% had not yet experienced any improvement. Olfactory and gustatory deficits were predominantly quantitative and mainly included complete loss of both olfactory and gustatory function. CONCLUSIONS: Chemosensory loss was frequent in young individuals and persisted beyond a month after symptom onset, often without any improvement during this time. FUNDING: The author wishes to acknowledge research salary funding from Arla Foods (Viby, Denmark) and the Central Region Denmark. The sponsors had no say, roles or responsibilities in relation to the study, including (but not limited to) the study design, data collection, management and analysis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.
Subject(s)
Ageusia , Betacoronavirus/isolation & purification , Coronavirus Infections , Olfaction Disorders , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Adult , Ageusia/diagnosis , Ageusia/etiology , Ageusia/rehabilitation , COVID-19 , COVID-19 Testing , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/methods , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/statistics & numerical data , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/physiopathology , Denmark/epidemiology , Diagnostic Self Evaluation , Female , Humans , Male , Olfaction Disorders/diagnosis , Olfaction Disorders/etiology , Olfaction Disorders/rehabilitation , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/physiopathology , Recovery of Function , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and Questionnaires , Symptom Assessment/methods , Symptom Assessment/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare health-related quality of life and depression between individuals with an inability to smell (anosmia) and a comparison group of individuals with a normal sense of smell. METHODS: Ninety individuals from an anosmia organization (anosmia based on self-report) were compared to 89 individuals with a normal sense of smell. The SF-36 and Beck Depression Inventory-II-NL (BDI-II-NL) were administered, along with the Questionnaire for Olfactory Dysfunction (QOD) to assess the degree of problems in daily life related to the smell impairment. RESULTS: Compared to the comparison group, scores in the anosmia group differed on: the QOD-subscale Life Quality (related to tasting and smelling: p < .001) and Parosmia (Smelling odors as different: p < .001); and the SF-36 subscales of Social Functioning, Vitality, Mental Health and General Health (p's < .05). Persons with anosmia scored higher on the BDI-II-NL than persons from the comparison group (p < .01). DISCUSSION: Once a smell dysfunction is recognized, interventions aiming at dealing with the loss of smell as a source of information and enjoyment, as well as at improvement of emotional wellbeing, social interaction, energy, and depression should be considered.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/psychology , Olfaction Disorders/psychology , Quality of Life/psychology , Activities of Daily Living/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Ageusia/diagnosis , Ageusia/psychology , Ageusia/rehabilitation , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/rehabilitation , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Olfaction Disorders/diagnosis , Olfaction Disorders/rehabilitation , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Psychometrics , Sick RoleABSTRACT
Olfactory and gustatory disorders are by no means uncommon, and may be associated with an appreciable impairment of the patient's quality of life. In many cases, diagnosis and treatment is not easy, and necessitates interdisciplinary cooperation between the general practitioner, internist, ENT specialist, neurologist and psychiatrist. Many of the non-evidence-based treatments still applied in hospitals and the physician's office should, for reasons of quality control and to avoid polypragmasy possibly associated with undesirable side effects, be employed with reservations. With reference to the guidelines issued by the working group Olfactologie/Gustologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für HNO-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie (Olfactology/Gustology of the German Society of ENT Medicine, Head and Neck Surgery), a review of the causes, diagnosis and treatment of olfactory and gustatory disorders [3,4] is presented.
