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Olfactory and gustatory function impairment in COVID-19 patients: Italian objective multicenter-study
Luigi Angelo Vaira1, Claire Hopkins2, Giovanni Salzano3
1Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, University Hospital of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Head & Neck
|May 22, 2020
Summary
COVID-19 patients often under-report chemosensitive disorders like smell loss. Objective testing reveals more frequent olfactory dysfunction, which correlates with severe COVID-19, not milder cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Limited objective data exists regarding chemosensitive disorders in COVID-19 patients.
- Chemosensory dysfunction is a recognized symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively evaluate chemosensitive disorders in a cohort of COVID-19 patients.
- To investigate the relationship between chemosensory dysfunction and COVID-19 severity.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter cohort study involving 345 COVID-19 patients from four Italian hospitals.
- Objective chemosensitive evaluation was performed on all participants.
Main Results:
- A significant percentage of patients (30.1%) objectively exhibited hyposmia despite not self-reporting symptoms.
- Long-lasting chemosensory complaints were reported by 25% of patients.
- No correlation was found between chemosensory disorders and milder COVID-19; however, symptom duration correlated with severe disease.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 patients frequently under-report chemosensitive disorders.
- Objective testing contradicts the notion that olfactory/gustatory dysfunction predicts milder COVID-19.
- Severe COVID-19 cases may be associated with a neglect of chemosensory symptoms due to respiratory distress.
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