Modified Olfactory Training Is an Effective Treatment Method for COVID-19 Induced Parosmia

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction and parosmia are common sequelae of COVID-19 infection.
• Modified olfactory training (MOT) is a potential therapeutic intervention for post-infectious olfactory disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of modified olfactory training (MOT) in treating parosmia following COVID-19 infection.
• To compare the outcomes of MOT with a control group receiving no olfactory training.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study involving 75 participants with COVID-19-induced parosmia.
• Treatment group received MOT with 12 odors for 36 weeks; control group received no training.
• Olfactory function assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks Test and parosmia assessment scale at baseline and 9 months.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed improvement, but the MOT group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in olfactory function and parosmia reduction (P < .001).
• Extending MOT from 6 to 9 months further enhanced mitigation of parosmia and improved discrimination scores (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Modified olfactory training is a proven effective treatment for parosmia resulting from COVID-19 infection.
• Longer durations of MOT (9 months) yield superior outcomes in managing post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction.