Different Modalities in the Management of Post-COVID-19 Olfactory Dysfunction

SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to olfactory dysfunctions affecting patients' quality of life. Despite various ongoing studies, solid evidence supporting therapies, especially for COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction, remains scarce. To assess nasal steroid, nasal vitamin A, and intranasal theophylline as treatment options for post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. This is a multi-center retrospective case-controlled study of 120 cases with post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction (hyposmia or anosmia) at Benha University Hospitals, Egypt, and Dallah Hospital, Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) between January 2020 and December 2022. 43.3% males and 56.6% females with median age was 38.5 years. Nasal steroid, nasal vitamin A, and intranasal theophylline had a significantly reduced time for complete smell recovery (25.7 ± 9.20 days, 24.8 ± 6.67 days. 23.5 ± 7.13 days Respectively) in comparison to the control group (olfactory training alone) (28.97 ± 4.29 days) (P = 0.02*). No significant correlation between age, gender, severity, duration of COVID-19 illness, and obesity with anosmia/hyposmia duration and smell scores, however a highly significant negative correlation between diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and asthma complete smell recovery within four weeks of treatment (P-Value < 0.001***). A combination of topical mometasone furoate, vitamin A, or intranasal theophylline with olfactory training can shorten post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. However, no significant smell score improvement was found when compared to olfactory training alone after four weeks. Diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and asthma adversely affect complete smell recovery within four weeks of treatment.