P Boscolo-Rizzo1, T Hummel2, C Hopkins3, M Dibattista4, A Menini5, G Spinato6, C Fabbris7, E Emanuelli7, A D'Alessandro1, R Marzolino1, Enrico Zanelli1, E Cancellieri1, K Cargnelutti1, S Fadda1, D Borsetto8, L A Vaira9, N Gardenal1, J Polesel10, G Tirelli1. 1. Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Section of Otolaryngology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. 2. Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. 3. Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, London, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sensory Organs, University of Bari A. Moro, Bari, Italy. 5. Neurobiology Group, SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy. 6. Unit of Otolaryngology, AULSS 2 - Marca Trevigiana, Treviso, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Section of Otolaryngology, University of Padova, Treviso, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. 7. Unit of Otolaryngology, AULSS 2 - Marca Trevigiana, Treviso, Italy. 8. Department of ENT, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 9. Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. 10. Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Using an age and gender matched-pair case-control study, we aimed to estimate the long-term prevalence of psychophysical olfactory, gustatory , and chemesthesis impairment at least one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection considering the background of chemosensory dysfunction in non-COVID-19 population. METHODOLOGY: This case-controlled study included 100 patients who were home-isolated for mildly symptomatic COVID-19 between March and April 2020. One control regularly tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection and always tested negative was matched to each case according to gender and age. Chemosensory function was investigated by a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation including ortho- and retronasal olfaction and an extensive assessment of gustatory function. Differences in chemosensory parameters were evaluated through either Fisher’s exact test or Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The psychophysical assessment of chemosensory function took place after a median of 401 days from the first SARS-CoV-2 positive swab. The evaluation of orthonasal smell identified 46% and 10% of cases and controls, respectively, having olfactory dysfunction, with 7% of COVID-19 cases being functionally anosmic. Testing of gustatory function revealed a 27% of cases versus 10% of controls showing a gustatory impairment. Nasal trigeminal sensitivity was significantly lower in cases compared to controls. Persistent chemosensory impairment was associated with emotional distress and depression. CONCLUSION: More than one year after the onset of COVID-19, cases exhibited an excess of olfactory, gustatory , and chemesthesis disturbances compared to matched-pair controls with these symptoms being associated to emotional distress and depression.
BACKGROUND: Using an age and gender matched-pair case-control study, we aimed to estimate the long-term prevalence of psychophysical olfactory, gustatory , and chemesthesis impairment at least one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection considering the background of chemosensory dysfunction in non-COVID-19 population. METHODOLOGY: This case-controlled study included 100 patients who were home-isolated for mildly symptomatic COVID-19 between March and April 2020. One control regularly tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection and always tested negative was matched to each case according to gender and age. Chemosensory function was investigated by a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation including ortho- and retronasal olfaction and an extensive assessment of gustatory function. Differences in chemosensory parameters were evaluated through either Fisher’s exact test or Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The psychophysical assessment of chemosensory function took place after a median of 401 days from the first SARS-CoV-2 positive swab. The evaluation of orthonasal smell identified 46% and 10% of cases and controls, respectively, having olfactory dysfunction, with 7% of COVID-19 cases being functionally anosmic. Testing of gustatory function revealed a 27% of cases versus 10% of controls showing a gustatory impairment. Nasal trigeminal sensitivity was significantly lower in cases compared to controls. Persistent chemosensory impairment was associated with emotional distress and depression. CONCLUSION: More than one year after the onset of COVID-19, cases exhibited an excess of olfactory, gustatory , and chemesthesis disturbances compared to matched-pair controls with these symptoms being associated to emotional distress and depression.
Authors: Katie E Webster; Lisa O'Byrne; Samuel MacKeith; Carl Philpott; Claire Hopkins; Martin J Burton Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2022-09-05
Authors: Lisa O'Byrne; Katie E Webster; Samuel MacKeith; Carl Philpott; Claire Hopkins; Martin J Burton Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2022-09-05
Authors: Ludger Klimek; Jan Hagemann; Julia Döge; Laura Freudelsperger; Mandy Cuevas; Felix Klimek; Thomas Hummel Journal: Allergo J Int Date: 2022-06-20
Authors: Bernhard Prem; David T Liu; Gerold Besser; Gunjan Sharma; Laura E Dultinger; Sissy V Hofer; Martina M Matiasczyk; Bertold Renner; Christian A Mueller Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2021-11-10 Impact factor: 2.503