A follow-up on quantitative and qualitative olfactory dysfunction and other symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19 smell loss

• DOI: 10.4193/rhin21.415
• Publication Date: 2022-04-19T09:51:09Z
• Authors: K. Ohla; M.G. Veldhuizen; T. Green; M.E. Hannum; A.J. Bakke; S.T. Moein; A. Tognetti; E.M. Postma; R. Pellegrino; D.L.D. Hwang; J. Albayay; S. Koyama; A.A. Nolden; T. Thomas-Danguin; C. Mucignat-Caretta; N.S. Menger; I. Croijmans; L. Öztürk; H. Yanık; D. Pierron; V. Pereda-Loth; A. Nunez-Parra; A.M. Martinez Pineda; D. Gillespie; M.C. Farruggia; C. Cecchetto; M.A. Fornazieri; C. Philpott; V. Voznessenskaya; K.W. Cooper; P. Rohlfs Dominguez; O. Calcinoni; J. de Groot; S. Boesveldt; S. Bhutani; E.M. Weir; C. Exten; P.V. Joseph; J.E. Hayes; M.Y. Niv
• Keywords: Anosmia; Taste disorder; Dysgeusia; Hyposmia

Background: Sudden smell loss is a specific early symptom of COVID-19, which, prior to the emergence Omicron, had estimated prevalence ~40% 75%. Chemosensory impairments affect physical and mental health, dietary behavior. Thus, it critical understand rate time course recovery. The aim this cohort study was characterize function recovery up 11 months post COVID-19 infection. Methods: This longitudinal survey individuals suffering COVID-19-related assessed disease symptoms gustatory olfactory function. Participants (n=12,313) who completed an initial (S1) about respiratory symptoms, chemosensory diagnosis between April September 2020, were invited complete follow-up (S2). Between 2020 February 2021, 27.5% participants responded (n=3,386), with 1,468 being diagnosed co-occurring taste at beginning their illness. Results: At (median since onset ~200 days), ~60% women ~48% men reported less than 80% pre-illness ability. Taste typically recovered faster smell, rarely persisted if recovered. Prevalence parosmia phantosmia ~10% in S1 increased substantially S2: ~47% for ~25% phantosmia. Persistent impairment associated more overall, suggesting may be key marker long-COVID ability during rated slightly lower by those did not eventually recover S2. Conclusions: While improves many lost acute increases over time. Olfactory dysfunction broader persistent last following COVID-19. absence rare. qualitative are emerging as common long-term sequelae; research into treatment options strongly warranted given that even conservative estimates suggest millions experience Healthcare providers worldwide need prepared treat secondary effects on health.