Published in:
01-01-2022 | Coronavirus | Short Communication
Self-reported smell and taste recovery in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: a one-year prospective study
Authors:
Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo, Francesco Guida, Jerry Polesel, Alberto Vito Marcuzzo, Paolo Antonucci, Vincenzo Capriotti, Erica Sacchet, Fiordaliso Cragnolini, Andrea D’Alessandro, Enrico Zanelli, Riccardo Marzolino, Chiara Lazzarin, Margherita Tofanelli, Nicoletta Gardenal, Daniele Borsetto, Claire Hopkins, Luigi Angelo Vaira, Giancarlo Tirelli
Published in:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
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Issue 1/2022
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Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the present study was to estimate the 1 year prevalence and recovery rate of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction in a series of subjects with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19.
Methods
Prospective study based on the SNOT-22, item “sense of smell or taste” and additional outcomes.
Results
268/315 patients (85.1%) completing the survey at baseline also completed the follow-up interview. The 12 months prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction was 21.3% (95% CI 16.5–26.7%). Of the 187 patients who complained of COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction at baseline, 130 (69.5%; 95% CI 62.4–76.0%) reported complete resolution of smell or taste impairment, 41 (21.9%) reported a decrease in the severity, and 16 (8.6%) reported the symptom was unchanged or worse 1 year after onset. The risk of persistence was higher for patients reporting a baseline SNOT-22 score ≥ 4 (OR = 3.32; 95% CI 1.32–8.36) as well as for those requiring ≥ 22 days for a negative swab (OR = 2.18; 95% CI 1.12–4.27).
Conclusion
A substantial proportion of patients with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19 characterized by new onset of chemosensory dysfunction still complained on altered sense of smell or taste 1 year after the onset.