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Olfactory impairment in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 self-perceived as asymptomatic

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2022

F D Zahedi Open the ORCID record for F D Zahedi [Opens in a new window] ,
S Husain ,
A K Wan Hamizan ,
G J Tuang ,
H S Gendeh Open the ORCID record for H S Gendeh [Opens in a new window] ,
T J Oui ,
N Mustafa  and
H T Kok
F D Zahedi
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
S Husain*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A K Wan Hamizan
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
G J Tuang
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
H S Gendeh
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
T J Oui
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
N Mustafa
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
H T Kok
Affiliation:
Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (‘MAEPS’) COVID-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre, Selangor, Malaysia
*
Author for correspondence: Prof Salina Husain, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail: drsalina_h@ukm.edu.my
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Abstract

Background

Olfactory impairment may be present among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 self-perceived as asymptomatic. This study aimed to assess olfactory function among these individuals.

Methods

A cross-sectional study involving patients with coronavirus disease 2019 self-perceived as asymptomatic was conducted. Assessments included the subjective Malaysian Smell and Taste Questionnaire and the culturally adapted Malaysian version of the objective Sniffin’ Sticks Identification smell test.

Results

In 81 participants (mean age of 31.59 ± 12.04 years), with mean time from diagnosis to smell test of 7.47 ± 3.79 days, subjective assessment showed that 80.2 per cent were asymptomatic (questionnaire score of 6) and 19 per cent had mild symptoms (questionnaire score of 7 and 8). The mean objective smell test score was 10.89 ± 2.11. The prevalence of olfactory impairment was 76.6 per cent among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 self-perceived as asymptomatic. There was no association between the questionnaire and the smell test scores (p = 0.25). There was a correlation between the smell test score and the duration from diagnosis to smell test (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

The objective assessment demonstrated that coronavirus disease 2019 patients who perceived themselves as asymptomatic showed olfactory impairment.

Keywords

CoronavirusCOVID-19Olfactory PerceptionSmellAnosmia

Information

Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 137 , Issue 2 , February 2023 , pp. 174 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Prof S Husain takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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