Olfactory dysfunction and coronavirus disease 2019 severity: a prospective cohort study

L Aydemir: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
C Sen*: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
H Kara: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
A A Demir: Affiliation:
Fulya Imaging Center, Istanbul, Turkey
E Bozbora: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
E Uysal: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
C Kesimli: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Liv Hospital Ulus, Istanbul, Turkey
K S Orhan: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
S Comoglu: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
M N Keles Turel: Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey
*: Author for correspondence: Dr Comert Sen, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Turgut Özal street, Istanbul 34093, Turkey E-mail: comert.sen@istanbul.edu.tr

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Abstract

Objective

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the association between olfactory dysfunction or taste impairment and disease severity and radiological findings in coronavirus disease-2019. The secondary goal was to assess the prevalence, severity and course of olfactory dysfunction or taste impairment in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Method

This prospective observational cohort study evaluated patients hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 between April 1 and 1 May 2020. Olfactory dysfunction and taste impairment were evaluated by two questionnaires. Chest computed tomography findings and coronavirus disease-2019 severity were assessed.

Results

Among 133 patients, 23.3 per cent and 30.8 per cent experienced olfactory dysfunction and taste impairment, respectively, and 17.2 per cent experienced both. The mean age was 56.03 years, and 64.7 per cent were male and 35.3 per cent were female. No statistically significant association was found between olfactory dysfunction (p = 0.706) and taste impairment (p = 0.35) with either disease severity or chest computed tomography grading.

Conclusion

Olfactory dysfunction or taste impairment does not have prognostic importance in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Keywords

COVID-19 Smell Anosmia Ageusia Dysgeusia

Type: Main Articles
Information: The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 11 , November 2021 , pp. 1010 - 1018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215121002425[Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr C Sen takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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