Olfactory function and findings on chest computed tomography in COVID-19: is there any correlation?

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology
• Neurology

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction is common in COVID-19, often co-occurring with pulmonary issues.
• The relationship between olfactory function and lung involvement in COVID-19 requires further clinical investigation.
• Distinct pathophysiological mechanisms may underlie these co-manifestations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between olfactory function and radiological pulmonary involvement in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• To determine if olfactory dysfunction severity aligns with the extent of lung damage in COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Consecutive recruitment of hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients.
• Objective olfactory function (OF) assessment using the Alcohol Sniff Test.
• Chest computed tomography (cCT) for qualitative and quantitative lung involvement analysis (CT severity score).

Main Results:

• No statistically significant correlation was found between olfactory function and the grade of lung involvement (p=0.884).
• No correlation was observed between olfactory function and the CT severity score (Pearson's r=-0.111).
• Patients with COVID-19-typical radiological findings showed no significant difference in OF compared to others (p=0.193).

Conclusions:

• Olfactory dysfunction is not associated with the degree of radiological lung involvement in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• Clinical evidence supports that olfactory disorders and pulmonary disease in COVID-19 operate via separate mechanisms.
• This finding aids in understanding the multifaceted nature of COVID-19's impact on different organ systems.