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Published on: September 13, 2024
Persisting olfactory dysfunction in post-COVID-19 is associated with gustatory impairment: Results from
Constantin A Hintschich1, René Fischer1, Thomas Hummel2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Regensburg University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Olfactory and gustatory disorders are prominent symptoms of acute COVID-19. Although both senses recover in many patients within weeks to months, persistency has been described in up to 60%. However up to now most reports on the course of chemosensitive disorders after COVID-19 are not based on psychophysical testing but only on subjective patients' ratings. In this study we assessed both olfaction and gustation using psychophysical tests eight months after COVID-19. Validated psychophysical testing revealed hyposmia in 18% and hypogeusia in even 32% of 303 included patients. This shows that olfactory and especially gustatory disorders have to be seen as important chronic symptoms post-COVID-19. The high prevalence of gustatory dysfunction indicates that gustatory function does not recover or might even deteriorate in the months following the acute infection.
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