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Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in people with an acute loss in their sense of smell and/or taste in a community-based population in London, UK: An observational cohort study
- Source :
- PLoS Medicine, Vol 17, Iss 10, p e1003358 (2020), PLoS Medicine
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2020.
-
Abstract
- Background Loss of smell and taste are commonly reported symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in people with acute loss of smell and/or taste is unknown. The study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a community-based population with acute loss of smell and/or taste and to compare the frequency of COVID-19 associated symptoms in participants with and without SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. It also evaluated whether smell or taste loss are indicative of COVID-19 infection. Methods and findings Text messages, sent via primary care centers in London, United Kingdom, invited people with loss of smell and/or taste in the preceding month, to participate. Recruitment took place between 23 April 2020 and 14 May 2020. A total of 590 participants enrolled via a web-based platform and responded to questions about loss of smell and taste and other COVID-19–related symptoms. Mean age was 39.4 years (SD ± 12.0) and 69.1% (n = 392) of participants were female. A total of 567 (96.1%) had a telemedicine consultation during which their COVID-19–related symptoms were verified and a lateral flow immunoassay test that detected SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies was undertaken under medical supervision. A total of 77.6% of 567 participants with acute smell and/or taste loss had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies; of these, 39.8% (n = 175) had neither cough nor fever. New loss of smell was more prevalent in participants with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, compared with those without antibodies (93.4% versus 78.7%, p < 0.001), whereas taste loss was equally prevalent (90.2% versus 89.0%, p = 0.738). Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was 3 times more likely in participants with smell loss (OR 2.86; 95% CI 1.27–6.36; p < 0.001) compared with those with taste loss. The limitations of this study are the lack of a general population control group, the self-reported nature of the smell and taste changes, and the fact our methodology does not take into account the possibility that a population subset may not seroconvert to develop SARS-CoV-2 antibodies post-COVID-19. Conclusions Our findings suggest that recent loss of smell is a highly specific COVID-19 symptom and should be considered more generally in guiding case isolation, testing, and treatment of COVID-19. Trials registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04377815<br />In a UK-based cohort, Janine Makaronidis and colleagues investigate COVID-19 seropositivity in individuals with loss of smell and/or taste.<br />Author summary Why was this study done? Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, was declared a pandemic in March 2020. COVID-19 can cause loss or reduced ability to smell (anosmia) or taste, without cough or fever, but few countries recommend self-isolation and testing on the basis of smell or taste changes alone. This study aimed to find out the proportion of people who have developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a community-based population with a newly developed loss in their sense of smell and/or taste in London, UK. What did the researchers do and find? Text messages were sent out to people registered with a number of primary care centers in London inviting people with a new loss in their sense of smell and/or taste to participate. Recruited participants completed online questionnaires regarding demographics, their loss of smell and/or taste, and other COVID-19 symptoms, before they had a telemedicine consultation with a healthcare professional who confirmed the history of their symptoms and supervised a test to find out if they had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A total of 78% of 567 people with smell and/or taste loss had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies; of these, 40% had neither cough nor fever, and participants with loss of smell were 3 times more to have SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, compared with those with loss of taste. What do these findings mean? Loss of smell is a highly specific symptom of COVID-19. COVID-19 can present with loss of smell and/or taste without cough or fever. Loss of smell should be take into consideration in case isolation, testing, and treatment strategies for COVID-19.
- Subjects :
- RNA viruses
Male
Taste
Viral Diseases
Coronaviruses
Physiology
Social Sciences
030204 cardiovascular system & hematology
Antibodies, Viral
Biochemistry
Olfaction Disorders
Taste Disorders
0302 clinical medicine
Medical Conditions
COVID-19 Testing
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Immune Physiology
London
Coughing
Psychology
030212 general & internal medicine
Pathology and laboratory medicine
Virus Testing
education.field_of_study
Immune System Proteins
biology
General Medicine
Medical microbiology
Middle Aged
Smell
Infectious Diseases
Point-of-Care Testing
Seroconversion
Viruses
Medicine
Sensory Perception
Female
SARS CoV 2
Pathogens
Coronavirus Infections
Cohort study
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
SARS coronavirus
Population
Immunology
Pneumonia, Viral
Olfaction
Microbiology
Antibodies
03 medical and health sciences
Betacoronavirus
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnostic Medicine
Internal medicine
medicine
Seroprevalence
Humans
education
Pandemics
Medicine and health sciences
Text Messaging
business.industry
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
SARS-CoV-2
fungi
Cognitive Psychology
Organisms
Viral pathogens
Biology and Life Sciences
Proteins
COVID-19
Covid 19
Microbial pathogens
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulin G
biology.protein
Cognitive Science
Perception
Clinical Medicine
business
Physiological Processes
Neuroscience
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15491676 and 15491277
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....62a0e2dedbdc478797eeb2858b554fcd