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COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction prevalence and natural history in ambulatory patients

Authors :
Daniel R. Bacon
Princess Onuorah
Alexander Murr
Christopher A. Wiesen
Jonathan Oakes
Brian D. Thorp
Adam M. Zanation
Charles S. Ebert, Jr.
David Wohl
Brent A. Senior
Adam J. Kimple
Source :
Rhinology Online, Vol 4, Iss 4, Pp 131-139 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Stichting NASE, 2021.

Abstract

Background: Evidence regarding prevalence of COVID-19 related Olfactory dysfunction (OD) among ambulatory patients is highly variable due to heterogeneity in study population and measurement methods. Relatively few studies have longitudinally investigated OD in ambulatory patients with objective methods. Methods: We performed a longitudinal study to investigate OD among COVID-19 ambulatory patients compared to symptomatic controls who test negative. Out of 81 patients enrolled, 45 COVID-19 positive patients and an age- and sex-matched symptomatic control group completed the BSIT and a questionnaire about smell, taste and nasal symptoms. These were repeated at 1 month for all COVID-19 positive patients, and again at 3 months for those who exhibited persistent OD. Analysis was performed by mixed-effects linear and logistic regression. Results: 46.7% of COVID-19 patients compared to 3.8% of symptomatic controls exhibited OD at 1-week post diagnosis. At 1 month, 16.7%, (6 of 36), of COVID-19 patients had persistent OD. Mean improvement in BSIT score in COVID-19 patients between 1-week BSIT and 1 month follow-up was 2.0. OD did not correlate with nasal congestion. Conclusions: Ambulatory COVID-19 patients exhibited OD significantly more frequently than symptomatic controls. Most patients regained normal olfaction by 1 month. The BSIT is a simple validated and objective test to investigate the prevalence of OD in ambulatory patients. OD did not correlate with nasal congestion which suggests a congestion-independent mechanism of OD.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
25895613
Volume :
4
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Rhinology Online
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.7f62dd564494775b7bd480229b36e7c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.4193/RHINOL/21.034