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Published in: Neurological Sciences 9/2020

01-09-2020 | Smelling Disorder | COVID-19

Frequency and outcome of olfactory impairment and sinonasal involvement in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Authors: Maryam Jalessi, Mitra Barati, Mohammad Rohani, Elahe Amini, Anis Ourang, Zahra Azad, Farideh Hosseinzadeh, Francesco Cavallieri, Reza Ghadirpour, Franco Valzania, Corrado Iaccarino, Arman Ahmadzadeh, Mohammad Farhadi

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 9/2020

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Abstract

Background

Olfactory dysfunction has shown to accompany COVID-19. There are varying data regarding the exact frequency in the various study population. The outcome of the olfactory impairment is also not clearly defined.

Objective

To find the frequency of olfactory impairment and its outcome in hospitalized patients with positive swab test for COVID-19.

Methods

This is a prospective descriptive study of 100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, randomly sampled, from February to March 2020. Demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory findings were analyzed according to the olfactory loss or sinonasal symptoms. The olfactory impairment and sinonasal symptoms were evaluated by 9 Likert scale questions asked from the patients.

Results

Ninety-two patients completed the follow-up (means 20.1 (± 7.42) days). Twenty-two (23.91%) patients complained of olfactory loss and in 6 (6.52%) patients olfactory loss was the first symptom of the disease. The olfactory loss was reported to be completely resolved in all but one patient. Thirty-nine (42.39%) patients had notable sinonasal symptoms while rhinorrhea was the first symptom in 3 (3.26%). Fifteen patients (16.3%) had a taste impairment. Patients with sinonasal symptoms had a lower age (p = 0.01). There was no significant relation between olfactory loss and sinonasal symptoms (p = 0.07).

Conclusions

Sudden olfactory dysfunction and sinonasal symptoms have a considerable prevalence in patients with COVID-19. No significant association was noted between the sinonasal symptoms and the olfactory loss, which may suggest that other mechanisms beyond upper respiratory tract involvement are responsible for the olfactory loss.
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Metadata
Title
Frequency and outcome of olfactory impairment and sinonasal involvement in hospitalized patients with COVID-19
Authors
Maryam Jalessi
Mitra Barati
Mohammad Rohani
Elahe Amini
Anis Ourang
Zahra Azad
Farideh Hosseinzadeh
Francesco Cavallieri
Reza Ghadirpour
Franco Valzania
Corrado Iaccarino
Arman Ahmadzadeh
Mohammad Farhadi
Publication date
01-09-2020
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Neurological Sciences / Issue 9/2020
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04590-4

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