Web-application guided bimodal olfactory training for COVID-19 patients: a randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Persistent olfactory dysfunction (dysosmia) affects many Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) patients long after infection.
• Cognitive functions, including semantic memory, may be impaired in PACS patients with unresolved olfactory issues.
• Visual-olfactory bimodal training offers a potential method to stimulate affected olfactory and cognitive areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the MaMadeleine visual-olfactory training kit in improving olfactory function in PACS patients.
• To assess the impact of bimodal olfactory training on olfactory recovery and quality of life.
• To investigate treatment adherence using a web application-assisted training program.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized study involved 83 PACS patients (aged >=14) with post-infectious olfactory dysfunction.
• Participants underwent two months of either simple (A) or semantic (B) visual-olfactory training using the MaMadeleine kit.
• Evaluations included clinical assessments, Sniffin' Sticks Tests, quality-of-life questionnaires, and adherence monitoring via a web application.

Main Results:

• MaMadeleine training resulted in subjective olfactory improvement in 79.4% (ortho-nasal) and 58.9% (retro-nasal) of patients.
• Sniffin' Sticks Test scores improved, and both parosmia and phantosmia decreased by 20%.
• Quality of life significantly improved in both training groups, with better adherence observed in the semantic training group (B).

Conclusions:

• The MaMadeleine training program effectively improves subjective olfactory function, objective test results, and quality of life in PACS patients.
• Multimodal training approaches appear to enhance patient adherence to olfactory rehabilitation.
• Further research is recommended for PACS patients with specific semantic memory impairments.