Olfactory dysfunction in Long-COVID

Aim The project aims to examine chemosensory dysfunction in long-COVID with a focus on olfactory function about 9 months after SARS-CoV-II-infection.

Material and Methods In this population-based cross sectional study, PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 outpatients were examined between November and June 2020 at Kiel university hospital. Data on medical history and chemosensory function were collected via questionnaires and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), olfactory performance was psychophysically objectified using the Sniffin’ Sticks test.

Results A total of 376 female and 290 male patients were included with a mean age of 48.2 years ranging from 19 to 87 years. The mean follow-up was 9.09 months (range 1.64-15.18) after initial positive PCR-testing.

The prevalence for olfactory dysfunction (OD) during infection was 66,1%. 33,7% of the subjects reported persistent OD subjectively at the time of examination (female 28,8%, male 42,3%). T-test analysis showed a significant decline of reported olfactory evaluation from before COVID-19 to the time of examination based on VAS (p<0.001).

34,6% of the subjects were tested hyposmic or anosmic by Sniffin’ Sticks. A significant correlation was shown between a subjective estimation of OD by the patients and an objectively tested OD (p<0.001). The TDI-score correlated positively with the amount of time (in months) that passed since PCR-testing (p<0.001).

Discussion OD in SARS-CoV-II-infection is frequent and can be persistent long beyond the acute phase of ilness. We demonstrated that anamnestic OD is significantly related to psychophysically tested OD. Therefore one can conclude that a subjective OD is a likely predictor of an actual objective OD. Furthermore, OD shows a tendency to improve over time.

NAPKON (Nationales Pandemie Kohorten Netz)

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022