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Gentilotti E, Gorska A, Cecchini MP, Mirandola M, Meroi M, De Nardo P, Sartori A, De Toffoli CK, Kumar-Singh S, Zanusso G, Monaco S, Tacconelli E. Chemosensory assessment and impact on quality of life in neurosensorial cluster of the post COVID 19 syndrome. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20951. [PMID: 39251830 PMCID: PMC11384755 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71475-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic brought chemosensory impairment to the forefront of medicine, revealing gaps in the knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms, true prevalence and preventive/therapeutic alternatives. This is a sub-study of the ORCHESTRA cohort focusing on post-COVID-19 chemosensory symptoms. Risk factors for neurosensorial cluster of post-COVID-19 syndrome (NSc-PCS) were assessed through multivariable analysis. Psychophysical validated tests were applied on a sub-population of 50 patients. Qualitative chemosensory symptoms as well as nasal and oral chemesthesis were evaluated through anamnestic interview and the quality of life through the SF-36 questionnaire. Chemosensory symptoms evolution and olfactory training's outcome were assessed through phone-call interviews. Out of 1187 patients (female, N = 630), 550 (47%) presented NSc-PCS, with a lower risk for older age and monoclonal antibodies treatment, and a higher risk in females (p < 0.001). Out of the 50 patients evaluated with psychophysical tests, 66% showed smell reduction with a qualitative alteration in 50% of hyposmic and 35% of normosmic patients. Hypogeusia was present in 14 (28%) of the patients assessed, with 56% showing a qualitative alteration; 53% of normogeusic patients presented qualitative disorders. NSc-PCS has a complex, fluctuating, multifaceted presentation. Quantifying and characterizing COVID-19-related chemosensory impairment is key to understand underlying mechanisms and to develop preventive and therapeutic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Gentilotti
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Gorska
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Cecchini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Massimo Mirandola
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marco Meroi
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Nardo
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Sartori
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Konishi De Toffoli
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Samir Kumar-Singh
- Molecular Pathology Group, Cell Biology & Histology, and Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Monaco
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Evelina Tacconelli
- Infectious Disease, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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2
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Min HJ. Correspondence to the editor regarding "The association of gustatory dysfunction, olfactory dysfunction, and cognition in older adults". Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2024; 14:741-742. [PMID: 37755146 DOI: 10.1002/alr.23278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jin Min
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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3
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Vandersteen C, Plonka A, Manera V, Sawchuk K, Lafontaine C, Galery K, Rouaud O, Bengaied N, Launay C, Guérin O, Robert P, Allali G, Beauchet O, Gros A. Alzheimer's early detection in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: a systematic review and expert consensus on preclinical assessments. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1206123. [PMID: 37416323 PMCID: PMC10320294 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1206123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older adults increasingly is being discussed in the literature on Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS). Remote digital Assessments for Preclinical AD (RAPAs) are becoming more important in screening for early AD, and should always be available for PACS patients, especially for patients at risk of AD. This systematic review examines the potential for using RAPA to identify impairments in PACS patients, scrutinizes the supporting evidence, and describes the recommendations of experts regarding their use. Methods We conducted a thorough search using the PubMed and Embase databases. Systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis), narrative reviews, and observational studies that assessed patients with PACS on specific RAPAs were included. The RAPAs that were identified looked for impairments in olfactory, eye-tracking, graphical, speech and language, central auditory, or spatial navigation abilities. The recommendations' final grades were determined by evaluating the strength of the evidence and by having a consensus discussion about the results of the Delphi rounds among an international Delphi consensus panel called IMPACT, sponsored by the French National Research Agency. The consensus panel included 11 international experts from France, Switzerland, and Canada. Results Based on the available evidence, olfaction is the most long-lasting impairment found in PACS patients. However, while olfaction is the most prevalent impairment, expert consensus statements recommend that AD olfactory screening should not be used on patients with a history of PACS at this point in time. Experts recommend that olfactory screenings can only be recommended once those under study have reported full recovery. This is particularly important for the deployment of the olfactory identification subdimension. The expert assessment that more long-term studies are needed after a period of full recovery, suggests that this consensus statement requires an update in a few years. Conclusion Based on available evidence, olfaction could be long-lasting in PACS patients. However, according to expert consensus statements, AD olfactory screening is not recommended for patients with a history of PACS until complete recovery has been confirmed in the literature, particularly for the identification sub-dimension. This consensus statement may require an update in a few years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clair Vandersteen
- Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, ENT Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Nice, France
- Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Alexandra Plonka
- Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Service Clinique Gériatrique du Cerveau et du Mouvement, Nice, France
- Département d'Orthophonie, UFR Médecine, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Institut NeuroMod, Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Valeria Manera
- Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Département d'Orthophonie, UFR Médecine, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Institut NeuroMod, Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Kim Sawchuk
- ACTLab, engAGE: Centre for Research on Aging, Concordia University Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Constance Lafontaine
- ACTLab, engAGE: Centre for Research on Aging, Concordia University Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kevin Galery
- Research Centre of the Geriatric University Institute of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Olivier Rouaud
- Leenaards Memory Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nouha Bengaied
- Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cyrille Launay
- Mc Gill University Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Olivier Guérin
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Service Clinique Gériatrique du Cerveau et du Mouvement, Nice, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS UMR 7284/INSERM U108, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging Nice, UFR de Médecine, Nice, France
| | - Philippe Robert
- Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Service Clinique Gériatrique du Cerveau et du Mouvement, Nice, France
- Département d'Orthophonie, UFR Médecine, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Gilles Allali
- Leenaards Memory Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Beauchet
- Research Centre of the Geriatric University Institute of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Mc Gill University Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Departments of Medicine and Geriatric, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Auriane Gros
- Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Service Clinique Gériatrique du Cerveau et du Mouvement, Nice, France
- Département d'Orthophonie, UFR Médecine, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
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Hamed SA. Post-COVID-19 persistent olfactory, gustatory, and trigeminal chemosensory disorders: Definitions, mechanisms, and potential treatments. World J Otorhinolaryngol 2023; 10:4-22. [DOI: 10.5319/wjo.v10.i2.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The nose and the oral cavities are the main sites for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry into the body. Smell and taste deficits are the most common acute viral manifestations. Persistent smell disorders are the most common and bothersome complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection, lasting for months to years. The mechanisms and treatment of persistent post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) smell and taste disorders are still challenges. Information sources for the review are PubMed, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ovid Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Elton Bryson Stephens Company, Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care, Cooperation in Science and Technology, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, World Health Organization, Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry, and MediFind. This review summarizes the up-to-date information about the prevalence, patterns at onset, and prognoses of post-COVID-19 smell and taste disorders, evidence for the neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 and the overlap between SARS-CoV-1, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and SARS-CoV-2 in structure, molecular biology, mode of replication, and host pathogenicity, the suggested cellular and molecular mechanisms for these post-COVID19 chemosensory disorders, and the applied pharmacotherapies and interventions as trials to treat these disorders, and the recommendations for future research to improve understanding of predictors and mechanisms of these disorders. These are crucial for hopeful proper treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherifa Ahmed Hamed
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut 71516, Egypt
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5
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Weir EM, Exten C, Gerkin RC, Munger SD, Hayes JE. Transient loss and recovery of oral chemesthesis, taste and smell with COVID-19: a small case-control series. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.27.23287763. [PMID: 37034638 PMCID: PMC10081393 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.27.23287763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Anosmia is common with respiratory virus infections, but loss of taste or chemesthesis is rare. Reports of true taste loss with COVID-19 were viewed skeptically until confirmed by multiple studies. Nasal menthol thresholds are elevated in some with prior COVID-19 infections, but data on oral chemesthesis are lacking. Many patients recover quickly, but precise timing and synchrony of recovery are unclear. Here, we collected broad sensory measures over 28 days, recruiting adults (18-45 years) who were COVID-19 positive or recently exposed (close contacts per U.S. CDC criteria at the time of the study) in the first half of 2021. Participants received nose clips, red commercial jellybeans (Sour Cherry and Cinnamon), and scratch-n-sniff cards (ScentCheckPro). Among COVID-19 cases who entered the study on or before Day 10 of infection, Gaussian Process Regression showed odor identification and odor intensity (two distinct measures of function) each declined relative to controls (close contacts who never developed COVID-19), but effects were larger for intensity than identification. To assess changes during early onset, we identified four COVID-19 cases who enrolled on or prior to Day 1 of their illness â€" this allowed for visualization of baseline ratings, loss, and recovery of function over time. Four controls were matched for age, gender, and race. Variables included sourness and sweetness (Sour Cherry jellybeans), oral burn (Cinnamon jellybeans), mean orthonasal intensity of four odors (ScentCheckPro), and perceived nasal blockage. Data were plotted over 28 days, creating panel plots for the eight cases and controls. Controls exhibited stable ratings over time. By contrast, COVID-19 cases showed sharp deviations over time. No single pattern of taste loss or recovery was apparent, implying different taste qualities might recover at different rates. Oral burn was transiently reduced for some before recovering quickly, suggesting acute loss may be missed in data collected after acute illness ends. Changes in odor intensity or odor identification were not explained by nasal blockage. Collectively, intensive daily testing shows orthonasal smell, oral chemesthesis and taste were each altered by acute COVID-19 infection, and this disruption was dyssynchronous for different modalities, with variable loss and recovery rates across modalities and individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M. Weir
- Sensory Evaluation Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA 16802
- Department of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA 16802
| | - Cara Exten
- Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA 16802
| | | | - Steven D. Munger
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville FL, 32610
- Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville FL, 32610
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville FL, 32610
| | - John E. Hayes
- Sensory Evaluation Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA 16802
- Department of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA 16802
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6
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Bhatia-Dey N, Csoka AB, Heinbockel T. Chemosensory Ability and Sensitivity in Health and Disease: Epigenetic Regulation and COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4179. [PMID: 36835589 PMCID: PMC9959623 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the animal kingdom, our two chemical senses, olfaction and gustation, are defined by two primary factors: genomic architecture of the organisms and their living environment. During the past three years of the global COVID-19 pandemic, these two sensory modalities have drawn much attention at the basic science and clinical levels because of the strong association of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with viral infection. Loss of our sense of smell alone, or together with a loss of taste, has emerged as a reliable indicator of COVID-19 infection. Previously, similar dysfunctions have been detected in a large cohort of patients with chronic conditions. The research focus remains on understanding the persistence of olfactory and gustatory disturbances in the post-infection phase, especially in cases with long-term effect of infection (long COVID). Also, both sensory modalities show consistent age-related decline in studies aimed to understand the pathology of neurodegenerative conditions. Some studies using classical model organisms show an impact on neural structure and behavior in offspring as an outcome of parental olfactory experience. The methylation status of specific odorant receptors, activated in parents, is passed on to the offspring. Furthermore, experimental evidence indicates an inverse correlation of gustatory and olfactory abilities with obesity. Such diverse lines of evidence emerging from basic and clinical research studies indicate a complex interplay of genetic factors, evolutionary forces, and epigenetic alterations. Environmental factors that regulate gustation and olfaction could induce epigenetic modulation. However, in turn, such modulation leads to variable effects depending on genetic makeup and physiological status. Therefore, a layered regulatory hierarchy remains active and is passed on to multiple generations. In the present review, we attempt to understand the experimental evidence that indicates variable regulatory mechanisms through multilayered and cross-reacting pathways. Our analytical approach will add to enhancement of prevailing therapeutic interventions and bring to the forefront the significance of chemosensory modalities for the evaluation and maintenance of long-term health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Heinbockel
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
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Molnár A, Maihoub S, Mavrogeni P, Krasznai M, Tamás L, Kraxner H. The Correlation between the Results of the Sniffin' Sticks Test, Demographic Data, and Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders in a Hungarian Population after a SARS-CoV-2 Infection. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12031041. [PMID: 36769688 PMCID: PMC9917422 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12031041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, smell disorders frequently occur, significantly affecting patients' quality of life (QoL). METHODS 110 patients with persistent olfactory disorder after coronavirus infection were enrolled. These patients underwent chemosensory testing using the Sniffin' Sticks test, and completed the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD). RESULTS 30% of the patients reported anosmia, and 70% reported hyposmia. Upon comparing subjective and chemosensory testing categories, good category matching was observed in 75.3% (i.e., anosmia based on both methods in 10 and hyposmia in 48 cases). Statistical analysis using the Chi-square test revealed a significant result (p = 0.001 *). Between the TDI (i.e., Threshold, Discrimination, Identification) results of the three subjective report groups (i.e., hyposmia, anosmia, and parosmia), no significant differences were observed. When the TDI and QOD results were compared, no consistent significant correlations were found in most TDI and QOD outcomes. Between the TDI and Scale 2 results, a significant, although slight correlation was observed by the Spearman's (rho = 0.213, p = 0.027 *) and Pearson's (rho = 0.201, p = 0.037 *) tests. CONCLUSIONS The nonsignificant correlation between objective and subjective methods suggests that these results should be interpreted independently. Moreover, adequate management is essential even in mild cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Molnár
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szigony u. 36, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence:
| | - Stefani Maihoub
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szigony u. 36, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Panayiota Mavrogeni
- Tóth Ilona Health Service Clinical Medical Institute, Görgey Artúr tér 8, 1212 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Magdolna Krasznai
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szigony u. 36, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Tamás
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szigony u. 36, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Voice, Speech and Swallowing Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Vas u. 17, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Helga Kraxner
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Szigony u. 36, 1083 Budapest, Hungary
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8
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von Bartheld CS, Wang L. Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction with the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cells 2023; 12:430. [PMID: 36766771 PMCID: PMC9913864 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The omicron variant is thought to cause less olfactory dysfunction than previous variants of SARS-CoV-2, but the reported prevalence differs greatly between populations and studies. Our systematic review and meta-analysis provide information regarding regional differences in prevalence as well as an estimate of the global prevalence of olfactory dysfunction based on 62 studies reporting information on 626,035 patients infected with the omicron variant. Our estimate of the omicron-induced prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in populations of European ancestry is 11.7%, while it is significantly lower in all other populations, ranging between 1.9% and 4.9%. When ethnic differences and population sizes are considered, the global prevalence of omicron-induced olfactory dysfunction in adults is estimated to be 3.7%. Omicron's effect on olfaction is twofold to tenfold lower than that of the alpha or delta variants according to previous meta-analyses and our analysis of studies that directly compared the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction between omicron and previous variants. The profile of the prevalence differences between ethnicities mirrors the results of a recent genome-wide association study that connected a gene locus encoding an odorant-metabolizing enzyme, UDP glycosyltransferase, to the extent of COVID-19-related loss of smell. Our analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that this enzyme contributes to the observed population differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. von Bartheld
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0352, USA
| | - Lingchen Wang
- School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0275, USA
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Nguyen H, Albayay J, Höchenberger R, Bhutani S, Boesveldt S, Busch NA, Croijmans I, Cooper KW, de Groot JHB, Farruggia MC, Fjaeldstad AW, Hayes JE, Hummel T, Joseph PV, Laktionova TK, Thomas-Danguin T, Veldhuizen MG, Voznessenskaya VV, Parma V, Pepino MY, Ohla K. Covid-19 affects taste independently of smell: results from a combined chemosensory home test and online survey from a global cohort (N=10,953). MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.01.16.23284630. [PMID: 36711499 PMCID: PMC9882440 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.16.23284630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
People often confuse smell loss with taste loss, so it is unclear how much gustatory function is reduced in patients self-reporting taste loss. Our pre-registered cross-sectional study design included an online survey in 12 languages with instructions for self-administering chemosensory tests with ten household items. Between June 2020 and March 2021, 10,953 individuals participated. Of these, 3,356 self-reported a positive and 602 a negative COVID-19 diagnosis (COVID+ and COVID-, respectively); 1,267 were awaiting test results (COVID?). The rest reported no respiratory illness and were grouped by symptoms: sudden smell/taste changes (STC, N=4,445), other symptoms excluding smell or taste loss (OthS, N=832), and no symptoms (NoS, N=416). Taste, smell, and oral irritation intensities and self-assessed abilities were rated on visual analog scales. Compared to the NoS group, COVID+ was associated with a 21% reduction in taste (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 15-28%), 47% in smell (95%-CI: 37-56%), and 17% in oral irritation (95%-CI: 10-25%) intensity. In all groups, perceived intensity of smell (r=0.84), taste (r=0.68), and oral irritation (r=0.37) was correlated. Our findings suggest most reports of taste dysfunction with COVID-19 were genuine and not due to misinterpreting smell loss as taste loss (i.e., a classical taste-flavor confusion). Assessing smell and taste intensity of household items is a promising, cost-effective screening tool that complements self-reports and helps to disentangle taste loss from smell loss. However, it does not replace standardized validated psychophysical tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Nguyen
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Javier Albayay
- Università degli Studi di Trento, Centro Interdipartimentale Mente/Cervello, Rovereto, IT
| | | | - Surabhi Bhutani
- San Diego State University, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sanne Boesveldt
- Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen, NL
| | - Niko A Busch
- University of Münster, Institute for Psychology, Münster, DE
| | - Ilja Croijmans
- Radboud University, Language and communication, Nijmegen, Gelderland, NL
| | - Keiland W Cooper
- University of California Irvine, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Alexander W Fjaeldstad
- Gødstrup Regional Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Flavour Clinic, University Clinic for Flavour, Balance and Sleep, Herning, DK
| | - John E Hayes
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Food Science, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Thomas Hummel
- University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Dresden, DE
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Paule Joseph, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, DIBCR, Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tatiana K Laktionova
- Tatiana K. Laktionova, A N Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Moscow, RU
| | - Thierry Thomas-Danguin
- Thierry Thomas-Danguin, INRAE CSGA, Research Center for Smell Taste and Feeding Behavior, Dijon, FR
| | | | - Vera V Voznessenskaya
- Tatiana K. Laktionova, A N Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Moscow, RU
| | | | - M Yanina Pepino
- University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kathrin Ohla
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Food Science, University Park, PA, USA
- Helmut-Schmidt-University / University of the Armed Forces Hamburg, Experimental Psychology Unit, Hamburg, DE
- Firmenich SA, Human Perception & Bioresponse, Satigny, CH
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Levesque-Boissonneault C, Bussière N, Roy-Côté F, Cloutier F, Caty MÈ, Frasnelli J. A quick test to objectify smell and taste dysfunction at home: a proof of concept for the validation of the chemosensory perception test. Chem Senses 2023; 48:bjad033. [PMID: 37586396 PMCID: PMC10746307 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjad033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown the efficacy of a home test for the self-evaluation of olfactory and gustatory functions in quarantined coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, testing was often limited to COVID-19 participants, and the accuracy of home test kits was rarely compared to standardized testing. This study aims at providing proof of concept for the validation of the new Chemosensory Perception Test (CPT) developed to remotely assess orthonasal olfactory, retronasal olfactory, and gustatory functions in various populations using common North American household items. In the 2 experiments, a total of 121 participants irrespective of having olfactory and/or gustatory complaints from various causes (COVID-19, sinunasal, post-viral, idiopathic) were tested first, with one or many of the following tests: (i) a brief chemosensory questionnaire, (ii) an olfactory test-Sniffin' Sticks Test (SST) or University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), and/or (iii) a gustatory test-Brief Waterless Empirical Taste Test (B-WETT). We then applied the CPT which yielded 3 different subscores, namely orthonasal, retronasal, and gustatory CPT scores. The orthonasal CPT score was significantly correlated with SST (ρ = 0.837, P < 0.001) and UPSIT (ρ = 0.364, P < 0.001) scores, and exhibited an excellent accuracy to identify olfactory dysfunction (OD) as compared to SST (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.923 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.822-1.000], P < 0.001). The retronasal CPT score but not the gustatory CPT score allowed to distinguish between participants with or without subjective gustatory complaint (AUC: 0.818 [95% CI, 0.726-0.909], P < 0.001). The CPT has the ability to identify OD and to quantify subjective gustatory complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Levesque-Boissonneault
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Nicholas Bussière
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Faculty of medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Frédérique Roy-Côté
- Research Center of the Sacré-Cœur hospital, CIUSSS Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Frank Cloutier
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Caty
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Research Center of the Sacré-Cœur hospital, CIUSSS Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Hannum ME, Koch RJ, Ramirez VA, Marks SS, Toskala AK, Herriman RD, Lin C, Joseph PV, Reed DR. Taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chem Senses 2023; 48:bjad043. [PMID: 38100383 PMCID: PMC11320609 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjad043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19 taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020-2021, with 235 meeting all inclusion criteria. Drawing on previous studies and guided by early meta-analyses, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct measures of taste are at least as sensitive as those obtained by self-report and that the preponderance of evidence confirms taste loss is a symptom of COVID-19. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,015 COVID-19-positive patients, 36.62% reported taste dysfunction (95% confidence interval: 33.02%-40.39%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 15) versus self-report (n = 220) methodologies (Q = 1.73, df = 1, P = 0.1889). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females, and taste loss was highest among middle-aged adults. Thus, taste loss is likely a bona fide symptom of COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E Hannum
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Riley J Koch
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Vicente A Ramirez
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of California Merced,
Merced, CA 95348, USA
| | - Sarah S Marks
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Aurora K Toskala
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Riley D Herriman
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Cailu Lin
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research,
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
USA
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
MD, USA
| | - Danielle R Reed
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St,
Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
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12
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Nguyen H, Albayay J, Höchenberger R, Bhutani S, Boesveldt S, Busch NA, Croijmans I, Cooper KW, de Groot JHB, Farruggia MC, Fjaeldstad AW, Hayes JE, Hummel T, Joseph PV, Laktionova TK, Thomas-Danguin T, Veldhuizen MG, Voznessenskaya VV, Parma V, Pepino MY, Ohla K. Covid-19 affects taste independent of taste-smell confusions: results from a combined chemosensory home test and online survey from a large global cohort. Chem Senses 2023; 48:bjad020. [PMID: 37350646 PMCID: PMC10396355 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjad020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
People often confuse smell loss with taste loss, so it is unclear how much gustatory function is reduced in patients self-reporting taste loss. Our pre-registered cross-sectional study design included an online survey in 12 languages with instructions for self-administering chemosensory tests with 10 household items. Between June 2020 and March 2021, 10,953 individuals participated. Of these, 5,225 self-reported a respiratory illness and were grouped based on their reported COVID test results: COVID-positive (COVID+, N = 3,356), COVID-negative (COVID-, N = 602), and COVID unknown for those waiting for a test result (COVID?, N = 1,267). The participants who reported no respiratory illness were grouped by symptoms: sudden smell/taste changes (STC, N = 4,445), other symptoms excluding smell or taste changes (OthS, N = 832), and no symptoms (NoS, N = 416). Taste, smell, and oral irritation intensities and self-assessed abilities were rated on visual analog scales. Compared to the NoS group, COVID+ was associated with a 21% reduction in taste (95% confidence interval (CI): 15-28%), 47% in smell (95% CI: 37-56%), and 17% in oral irritation (95% CI: 10-25%) intensity. There were medium to strong correlations between perceived intensities and self-reported abilities (r = 0.84 for smell, r = 0.68 for taste, and r = 0.37 for oral irritation). Our study demonstrates that COVID-19-positive individuals report taste dysfunction when self-tested with stimuli that have little to none olfactory components. Assessing the smell and taste intensity of household items is a promising, cost-effective screening tool that complements self-reports and may help to disentangle taste loss from smell loss. However, it does not replace standardized validated psychophysical tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Nguyen
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Javier Albayay
- Centro Interdipartimentale Mente/Cervello, Università degli Studi di Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | | | - Surabhi Bhutani
- School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sanne Boesveldt
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Niko A Busch
- Institute for Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ilja Croijmans
- Department of Language and Communication, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Keiland W Cooper
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael C Farruggia
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alexander W Fjaeldstad
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Flavour Clinic, University Clinic for Flavour, Balance and Sleep, Gødstrup Regional Hospital, Herning, Denmark
| | - John E Hayes
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dresden, Germany
| | - Paule V Joseph
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, DIBCR, Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - M Yanina Pepino
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kathrin Ohla
- Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Experimental Psychology Unit, Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Armed Forces Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Science & Research, dsm-firmenich, Satigny, Switzerland
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13
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Ferrulli A, Senesi P, Terruzzi I, Luzi L. Eating Habits and Body Weight Changes Induced by Variation in Smell and Taste in Patients with Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14235068. [PMID: 36501098 PMCID: PMC9738767 DOI: 10.3390/nu14235068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction are recognized as common symptoms in patients with COVID-19, with a prevalence ranging, respectively, between 41-61% and 38.2-49%. This review focused on relating the variations in dietary habits with the reduction/loss of smell and/or taste in patients who contracted the COVID-19 infection. Primarily, we reviewed the main pathological mechanisms involved in COVID 19-induced anosmia/dysosmia and ageusia/dysgeusia. Then, we explored and summarized the behavioural changes in food intake and body weight during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to sensory impairment and the underlying mechanisms. Most studies on this topic argue that the altered chemosensory perception (taste and smell) mainly induces reduced appetite, leading to a faster fullness sensation during the consumption of a meal and, therefore, to a decrease in body weight. On the other hand, a reduced perception of the food's sensory properties may trigger compensatory responses that lead some individuals to increase food intake with a different effect on body weight. Regarding body weight, most studies evaluated malnutrition in patients hospitalized for COVID-19; more studies are warranted to investigate nutritional status specifically in non-hospitalized patients with olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions caused by COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ferrulli
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +39-02-8599-4572
| | - Pamela Senesi
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Ileana Terruzzi
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Livio Luzi
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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14
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Mazzatenta A, Maffei M, Di Giulio C, Neri G. COVID-19 Smell Impairment and Crosstalk with Hypoxia Physiology. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091408. [PMID: 36143443 PMCID: PMC9505897 DOI: 10.3390/life12091408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its apomorphic appearance in 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nowadays circulates as a plesiomorphic human virus in several synapomorphic variants. The respiratory tract is the most important site of infection, the viral effects in the lungs are well described, and more than half of the patients could develop shortness of breath and dyspnea and require ventilatory support. The physiological sign of this condition is the decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood, leading to acute hypoxia, which could be a factor in the disease. In severe patients, we recorded several physiological parameters: breath frequency (BF), partial pressure of oxygen in the blood (pO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood (pCO2), hemoglobin (Hb), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure in correlation with the olfactory threshold. We found significant correlations between reduced olfactory threshold with pO2 and hemoglobin levels, changes in heart rate, and increased HR and pCO2. These results suggest that COVID-19 causes an impaired sense of smell that decreases in threshold corresponding to the disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mazzatenta
- Neurophysiology, Olfaction and Chemoreception Laboratory, Physiology and Physiopathology Section, Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences Department, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Margherita Maffei
- Istituto di Neuroscienze, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Camillo Di Giulio
- Neurophysiology, Olfaction and Chemoreception Laboratory, Physiology and Physiopathology Section, Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences Department, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Giampiero Neri
- Neurophysiology, Olfaction and Chemoreception Laboratory, Physiology and Physiopathology Section, Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences Department, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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15
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Hintschich CA, Vielsmeier V, Bohr C, Hagemann J, Klimek L. Author's reply to the Letter to the Editor "The study of olfactory dysfunction in SARS-CoV-2 variants". Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 279:5471-5472. [PMID: 35904630 PMCID: PMC9335000 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-022-07569-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Constantin A Hintschich
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Regensburg University Hospital, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Veronika Vielsmeier
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Regensburg University Hospital, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Bohr
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Regensburg University Hospital, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jan Hagemann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mainz University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ludger Klimek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mainz University Hospital, Mainz, Germany
- Center for Rhinology and Allergology, Wiesbaden, Germany
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16
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Olfactory Dysfunction in COVID-19: Pathology and Long-Term Implications for Brain Health. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:781-794. [PMID: 35810128 PMCID: PMC9212891 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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17
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Changes in smell and taste perception related to COVID-19 infection: a case-control study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8192. [PMID: 35581235 PMCID: PMC9112641 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11864-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The main aim of the present study was to psychophysically evaluate smell and taste functions in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and to compare those results with a group of healthy subjects. Another aim of the study was to assess the relationship of changes in patients’ smell and taste functions with a number of clinical parameters, symptoms, and other physiological signs as well as with severity of disease. Olfactory and gustatory functions were tested in 61 hospitalized patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and in a control group of 54 healthy individuals. Overall, we found a significant impairment of olfactory and gustatory functions in COVID-19 patients compared with the control group. Indeed, about 45% of patients self-reported complaints about or loss of either olfactory or gustatory functions. These results were confirmed by psychophysical testing, which showed a significantly reduced performance in terms of intensity perception and identification ability for both taste and smell functions in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, gustatory and olfactory impairments tended to be more evident in male patients suffering from more severe respiratory failure (i.e., pneumonia with need of respiratory support need during hospitalization).
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18
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Weir EM, Reed DR, Pepino MY, Veldhuizen MG, Hayes JE. Massively collaborative crowdsourced research on COVID19 and the chemical senses: Insights and outcomes. Food Qual Prefer 2022; 97:104483. [PMID: 34848930 PMCID: PMC8616712 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In March 2020, the Global Consortium of Chemosensory Research (GCCR) was founded by chemosensory researchers to address emerging reports of unusual smell and taste dysfunction arising from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Over the next year, the GCCR used a highly collaborative model, along with contemporary Open Science practices, to produce multiple high impact publications on chemosensation and COVID19. This invited manuscript describes the founding of the GCCR, the tools and approaches it used, and a summary of findings to date. These findings are contextualized within a summary of some of the broader insights about chemosensation (smell, taste, and chemesthesis) and COVID19 gained over the last 18 months, including potential mechanisms of loss. Also, it includes a detailed discussion of some current Open Science approaches and practices used by the GCCR to increase transparency, rigor, and reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M Weir
- Sensory Evaluation Center, United States
- Department of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Danielle R Reed
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - M Yanina Pepino
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
| | - Maria G Veldhuizen
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Çiftlikköy Campus, Yenişehir, 33343 Mersin, Turkey
| | - John E Hayes
- Sensory Evaluation Center, United States
- Department of Food Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
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19
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Persisting olfactory dysfunction in post-COVID-19 is associated with gustatory impairment: Results from chemosensitive testing eight months after the acute infection. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265686. [PMID: 35320821 PMCID: PMC8942205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory and gustatory disorders are prominent symptoms of acute COVID-19. Although both senses recover in many patients within weeks to months, persistency has been described in up to 60%. However up to now most reports on the course of chemosensitive disorders after COVID-19 are not based on psychophysical testing but only on subjective patients' ratings. In this study we assessed both olfaction and gustation using psychophysical tests eight months after COVID-19. Validated psychophysical testing revealed hyposmia in 18% and hypogeusia in even 32% of 303 included patients. This shows that olfactory and especially gustatory disorders have to be seen as important chronic symptoms post-COVID-19. The high prevalence of gustatory dysfunction indicates that gustatory function does not recover or might even deteriorate in the months following the acute infection.
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20
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SARS-CoV-2 Leads to Significantly More Severe Olfactory Loss than Other Seasonal Cold Viruses. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030461. [PMID: 35330212 PMCID: PMC8955706 DOI: 10.3390/life12030461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether COVID-associated olfactory impairment differs from olfactory disorders due to other upper respiratory tract infections. We investigated the frequency of a SARS-CoV-2 infection among subjects presenting with a subjective olfactory impairment to a corona outpatient clinic between October 2020 and March 2021. Olfactory and gustatory loss were tested psychophysically, and the type of infection, SARS-CoV-2 versus 14 other common cold viruses, was assessed with nasopharyngeal swabs. Differences between the smell impairment caused by the pathogens were compared. Out of the 2120 patients, 314 reported sudden smell and/or taste loss (14%). In 68.9% of them, olfactory and in 25.6%, gustatory dysfunction could be confirmed by psychophysical testing. Of those with a psychophysically determined loss of smell, 61% were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 led to a significantly more severe loss of smell and more qualitative olfactory disorders than other pathogens. Apart from rhinorrhea, shortness of breath and sore throat accompanying cold symptoms do not differ significantly between the viruses indicating the particular importance of smell loss in the differential diagnosis of seasonal colds. Multiplex-PCR in non-COVID patients revealed that only 27% of them had rhinoviruses, whereas the remainder were no further identified pathogens. Olfactory screening significantly increases diagnostic accuracy in COVID-19 patients compared to subjective assessment of olfactory loss.
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21
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Hintschich CA, Brosig A, Hummel T, Andorfer KE, Wenzel JJ, Bohr C, Vielsmeier V. Gustatory Function in Acute
COVID
‐19 ‐ Results from
Home‐Based
Psychophysical Testing. Laryngoscope 2022; 132:1082-1087. [PMID: 35188975 PMCID: PMC9088467 DOI: 10.1002/lary.30080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Objective Gustatory function during COVID‐19 is self‐reported by around 50% of patients. However, only a few studies assessed gustation using psychophysical testing during acute infection. The objective of this study is to test gustatory function on threshold tests in the very first days of COVID‐19. Methods Psychophysical testing consisted of validated and blinded tests for olfaction (NHANES Pocket Smell Test) and gustation (Taste Strips Test). These test kits were sent to home‐quarantined patients and self‐administered using a detailed instruction sheet. Results A total of 51 patients were included in this study. Testing was performed 6.5 ± 2.7 days after sampling of respiratory swabs. At this time 37% of patients stated to currently experience a gustatory impairment. The mean Taste Strips score was 10.0 ± 3.4 with 28% scoring in the range of hypogeusia. Interestingly, no significant difference in the results of gustatory testing could be observed between the group with subjectively preserved gustation and the group with self‐rated taste impairment. Conclusion During the very first days of COVID‐19, psychophysical gustatory testing revealed hypogeusia in 28%. This is far lower than patients' self‐reports. Different from previous studies, we did not find clear evidence for an impairment of only certain taste qualities. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 132:1082–1087, 2022
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anja Brosig
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Regensburg University Hospital Regensburg Germany
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology TU Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Kornelia E. Andorfer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Regensburg University Hospital Regensburg Germany
| | - Jürgen J. Wenzel
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene Regensburg University Hospital Regensburg Germany
| | - Christopher Bohr
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Regensburg University Hospital Regensburg Germany
| | - Veronika Vielsmeier
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Regensburg University Hospital Regensburg Germany
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22
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Lee SH, Yeoh ZX, Sachlin IS, Gazali N, Soelar SA, Foo CY, Low LL, Syed Alwi SB, Tengku Kamalden TMI, Shanmuganathan J, Zaid M, Wong CY, Chua HH, Yusuf S, Muhamad D, Devesahayam PR, Ker HB, Salahuddin Z, Mustafa M, Sawali H, Lee HG, Din S, Misnan NA, Mohamad A, Ismail MN, Periasamy C, Chow TS, Krishnan EK, Leong CL, Lim LPF, Zaidan NZ, Ibrahim MZ, Abd Wahab S, Mohd Hashim SS. Self-reported symptom study of COVID-19 chemosensory dysfunction in Malaysia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2111. [PMID: 35136124 PMCID: PMC8826975 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06029-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the three chemosensory modalities-smell, taste, and chemesthesis-have been implicated in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet emerging data suggest a wide geographic and ethnic variation in the prevalence of these symptoms. Studies on chemosensory disorders in COVID-19 have predominantly focused on Caucasian populations whereas Asians remain understudied. We conducted a nationwide, multicentre cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire on a cohort of RT-PCR-confirmed adult COVID-19 patients in Malaysia between 6 June and 30 November 2020. The aim of our study was to investigate their presenting symptoms and assess their chemosensory function using self-ratings of perceived smell, taste, chemesthesis, and nasal blockage. In this cohort of 498 patients, 41.4% reported smell and/or taste loss when diagnosed with COVID-19, which was the commonest symptom. Blocked nose, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal disturbances were independent predictors of smell and/or taste loss on multivariate analysis. Self-ratings of chemosensory function revealed a reduction in smell, taste, and chemesthesis across the entire cohort of patients that was more profound among those reporting smell and/or taste loss as their presenting symptom. Perceived nasal obstruction accounted for only a small proportion of changes in smell and taste, but not for chemesthesis, supporting viral disruption of sensorineural mechanisms as the dominant aetiology of chemosensory dysfunction. Our study suggests that chemosensory dysfunction in COVID-19 is more widespread than previously reported among Asians and may be related to the infectivity of viral strains.Study Registration: NMRR-20-934-54803 and NCT04390165.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen-Han Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, KM 6 Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar, 05450, Kedah, Malaysia.
| | - Zhi Xiang Yeoh
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, KM 6 Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar, 05450, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Ida Sadja'ah Sachlin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, KM 6 Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar, 05450, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Norzi Gazali
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, KM 6 Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar, 05450, Kedah, Malaysia
| | | | - Chee Yoong Foo
- Real World Insights, IQVIA Asia Pacific, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Lee Lee Low
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Kedah, Malaysia
| | | | | | | | - Masliza Zaid
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Chun Yiing Wong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Umum Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Hock Hin Chua
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Umum Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Suhaimi Yusuf
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Dzawani Muhamad
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | | | - Hong Bee Ker
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Zulkiflee Salahuddin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Mahiran Mustafa
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Halimuddin Sawali
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Heng Gee Lee
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Sobani Din
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Amran Mohamad
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Noor Ismail
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | | | - Ting Soo Chow
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Penang, Malaysia
| | | | - Chee Loon Leong
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Mohd Zambri Ibrahim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, Perlis, Malaysia
| | | | - Siti Sabzah Mohd Hashim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, KM 6 Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar, 05450, Kedah, Malaysia
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23
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Hannum ME, Koch RJ, Ramirez VA, Marks SS, Toskala AK, Herriman RD, Lin C, Joseph PV, Reed DR. Taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chem Senses 2022; 47:bjac001. [PMID: 35171979 PMCID: PMC8849313 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19 taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020-2021, with 241 meeting all inclusion criteria. Drawing on previous studies and guided by early meta-analyses, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct measures of taste are at least as sensitive as those obtained by self-report and that the preponderance of evidence confirms taste loss is a symptom of COVID-19. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,897 COVID-19-positive patients, 39.2% reported taste dysfunction (95% confidence interval: 35.34%-43.12%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 18) versus self-report (n = 223) methodologies (Q = 0.57, df = 1, P = 0.45). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females, and taste loss was highest among middle-aged adults. Thus, taste loss is likely a bona fide symptom of COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E Hannum
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Riley J Koch
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Vicente A Ramirez
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95348, USA
| | - Sarah S Marks
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Aurora K Toskala
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Riley D Herriman
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Cailu Lin
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Danielle R Reed
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
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24
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Sheen F, Tan V, Lim AJ, Haldar S, Sengupta S, Allen D, Somani J, Chen HY, Tambyah P, Forde CG. The COVOSMIA-19 trial: Preliminary application of the Singapore smell and taste test to objectively measure smell and taste function with COVID-19. Food Qual Prefer 2021; 97:104482. [PMID: 34848929 PMCID: PMC8612753 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Sudden loss of smell and/or taste has been identified as an early symptom of SARS-CoV-2 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and presents an effective target for prompt self-isolation and reducing community spread. The current study sought to develop and test a novel, rapid, self-administered test to objectively measure smell and taste losses associated with COVID-19, and administered self-report questionnaires to characterise symptoms associated with COVID-19 in Singapore. Participants (N = 99) completed questionnaires to record recent changes in smell and taste ability. This was followed by the ‘Singapore Smell and Taste Test’ (SSTT), a personal, objective testing kit for daily self-assessment of smell and taste function at their place of residence. Seventy-two recruited participants were confirmed as COVID-19 positive at baseline, of which 58 completed the SSTT at home. Of these, 36.2% had objectively measured smell and/or taste loss. The SSTT measures of smell and taste function were positively associated with participants’ self-reported smell and taste acuity, and rated smell intensity of 6 common household items. This study presents the first application of the SSTT as a rapid, cost-effective, objective tool to self-monitor smell and taste function in a residential setting, and ensures comparability across individuals through the use of standardised stimuli. The SSTT has potential for future application in populations with limited access to formal COVID-19 testing as a self-administered objective method to monitor sudden changes in smell and taste, and to prompt early self-isolation, in order to reduce community transmission of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Sheen
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Vicki Tan
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Amanda JiaYing Lim
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Sumanto Haldar
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Sharmila Sengupta
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - David Allen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore
| | - Jyoti Somani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore
| | - Hui Yee Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Paul Tambyah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore
| | - Ciarán G Forde
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore.,Wageningen University, Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour, Division of Human Nutrition, the Netherlands
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25
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Hintschich CA, Niv MY, Hummel T. The taste of the pandemic-contemporary review on the current state of research on gustation in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2021; 12:210-216. [PMID: 34704387 PMCID: PMC8653126 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Subjectively perceived impairment of taste is a common and distinct symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Large meta-analyses identified this symptom in approximately 50% of cases. However, this high prevalence is not supported by blinded and validated psychophysical gustatory testing, which showed a much lower prevalence in up to 26% of patients. This discrepancy may be due to misinterpretation of impaired retronasal olfaction as gustatory dysfunction. In addition, we hypothesized that COVID-19-associated hyposmia is involved in the decrease of gustatory function, as found for hyposmia of different origin. This indirect mechanism would be based on the central-nervous mutual amplification between the chemical senses, which fails in COVID-19-associated olfactory loss. However, further research is necessary on how severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) may directly impair the gustatory pathway as well as its subjective perception.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masha Y Niv
- The Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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26
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Hannum ME, Koch RJ, Ramirez VA, Marks SS, Toskala AK, Herriman RD, Lin C, Joseph PV, Reed DR. Taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.10.09.21264771. [PMID: 34671775 PMCID: PMC8528083 DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.09.21264771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19, taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020-2021, with 241 meeting all inclusion criteria. Additionally, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct prevalence measures of taste loss would be the most valid because they avoid the taste/smell confusion of self-report. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,897 COVID-19-positive patients, 39.2% reported taste dysfunction (95% CI: 35.34-43.12%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 18) versus self-report (n = 223) methodologies (Q = 0.57, df = 1, p = 0.45). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females and taste loss was highest in middle-aged groups. Thus, taste loss is a bona fide symptom COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Riley J Koch
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Vicente A Ramirez
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
- Department of Public Health, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95348
| | - Sarah S Marks
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Aurora K Toskala
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Riley D Herriman
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Cailu Lin
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Danielle R Reed
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
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27
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D V, Sharma A, Kumar A, Flora SJS. Neurological Manifestations in COVID-19 Patients: A Meta-Analysis. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2776-2797. [PMID: 34260855 PMCID: PMC8291134 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Common symptoms such as dizziness, headache, olfactory dysfunction, nausea, vomiting, etc. in COVID-19 patients have indicated the involvement of the nervous system. However, the exact association of the nervous system with COVID-19 infection is still unclear. Thus, we have conducted a meta-analysis of clinical studies associated with neurological problems in COVID-19 patients. We have searched for electronic databases with MeSH terms, and the studies for analysis were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality assessment. The Stats Direct (version 3) was used for the analysis. The pooled prevalence with 95% confidence interval of various neurological manifestations reported in the COVID-19 patients was found to be headache 14.6% (12.2-17.2), fatigue 33.6% (29.5-37.8), olfactory dysfunction 26.4% (21.8-31.3), gustatory dysfunction 27.2% (22.3-32.3), vomiting 6.7% (5.5-8.0), nausea 9.8% (8.1-11.7), dizziness 6.7% (4.7-9.1), myalgia 21.4% (18.8-24.1), seizure 4.05% (2.5-5.8), cerebrovascular diseases 9.9% (6.8-13.4), sleep disorders 14.9% (1.9-36.8), altered mental status 17.1% (12.3-22.5), neuralgia 2.4% (0.8-4.7), arthralgia 19.9% (15.3-25.0), encephalopathy 23.5% (14.3-34.1), encephalitis 0.6% (0.2-1.3), malaise 38.3% (24.7-52.9), confusion 14.2% (6.9-23.5), movement disorders 5.2% (1.7-10.4), and Guillain-Barre syndrome 6.9% (2.3-13.7). However, the heterogeneity among studies was found to be high. Various neurological manifestations related to the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) are associated with COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitalakumar D
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Raeberali, Lucknow 226002, India
| | - Ankita Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Raeberali, Lucknow 226002, India
| | - Anoop Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Research, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR), Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research University (DPSRU), New Delhi 110017, India
| | - S J S Flora
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Raeberali, Lucknow 226002, India
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28
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Boscutti A, Delvecchio G, Pigoni A, Cereda G, Ciappolino V, Bellani M, Fusar-Poli P, Brambilla P. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 15:100268. [PMID: 34027497 PMCID: PMC8129998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations, Olfactory (OD) and Gustatory (GD) Dysfunctions (OGD) have drawn considerable attention, becoming a sort of hallmark of the disease. Many have speculated on the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of these disturbances; however, no definite answers have been produced on the topic. With this systematic review, we aimed to collect all the available evidence regarding the prevalence of OGD, the timing of their onset and their resolution, their rate of recovery and their role as diagnostic and prognostic tools for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. METHODS A systematic review comprising all the observational studies that reported the prevalence and/or the longitudinal trajectories of OGD in COVID-19 patients, as self-reported by patients or measured through objective psychophysical tests. RESULTS After the selection process, 155 studies were included, with a total of 70,920 patients and 105,291 not-infected individuals. Prevalence reports were extremely variable across studies, with wide ranges for OD (0%-98%) and GD (0-89%) prevalence. OGD occurred early during the disease course and only rarely preceded other symptoms; out of 30 studies with a follow-up time of at least 20 days, only in 5 studies OGD fully resolved in more than 90% of patients. OGD had low sensitivity and high specificity for SARS-CoV-2 infection; accuracy of OD and GD for infection identification was higher than 80% in 10 out of 33 studies and in 8 out of 22 studies considered, respectively. 28 out of 30 studies that studied the association between OGD and disease severity found how OGD were associated with lower rates of severe pneumonia, hospitalization and mortality. CONCLUSIONS OGD seem to be highly prevalent in SARS-CoV-2 infection. They occur early, concomitantly with other symptoms and often persist after recovery, in some cases for months; whether a full recovery eventually occurs in all cases is not clear yet. OGD are good predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with a milder disease course.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Boscutti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - G. Delvecchio
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - A. Pigoni
- Social and Affective Neuroscience Group, MoMiLab, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Lucca, Italy
| | - G. Cereda
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - V. Ciappolino
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Bellani
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- UOC Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona (AOUI), Italy
| | - P. Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, UK
- OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - P. Brambilla
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, 20122, Milan, Italy
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29
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Cirillo N, Bizzoca ME, Lo Muzio E, Cazzolla AP, Lo Muzio L. Gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: a rapid systematic review on 27,687 cases. Acta Odontol Scand 2021; 79:418-425. [PMID: 33450165 DOI: 10.1080/00016357.2020.1869828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective: This is a rapid systematic review concerning taste alterations in 27,687 individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, published in the worldwide literature.Material and methods: Of the 485 articles recovered, 67 eligible studies (27,687 confirmed COVID-19 cases) were included in this analysis. We analysed the prevalence of the taste alterations in patients considering the country of origin of the studies.Results: The results show strong important differences in the overall reported prevalence of taste alterations among the different countries (from 11% of Korea to 88.8% of Belgium).Conclusions: These data highlight that there is a different geographical distribution of taste alterations in COVID-19 patients. Gustatory dysfunction seems to be an understudied symptom of COVID-19 and this may explain the inconsistencies of diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 case definition. Furthermore, this diagnostic underestimation can lead to an increased risk of contagion for the whole population and for the working classes most at risk, including the dental one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Cirillo
- Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Eleonora Lo Muzio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Angela Pia Cazzolla
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Lo Muzio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- C.I.N.B.O. (Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Bio-Oncologia), Chieti, Italy
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30
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Cirillo N. Taste alteration in COVID-19: Significant geographical differences exist in the prevalence of the symptom. J Infect Public Health 2021; 14:1099-1105. [PMID: 34274859 PMCID: PMC8266516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Early detection of COVID-19 is important for reduction in the spread of the disease and gustatory disturbances (GD) are known to have a strong predictive value. In the present study, we aimed to map the geographical differences in the prevalence of GD in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of COVID-19 in order to improve case identification and to facilitate prioritization. We undertook a rapid scoping review of articles published in the repository of the National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE/PubMed) and medRxiv from their inception until 3rd September, 2020. The minimum requirements for completing a restricted systematic review were fulfilled. Of the 431 articles retrieved, 61 studies (28,374 cases confirmed with COVID-19) from 20 countries were included in the analysis. GD were most prevalent in the Americas [66.78%, 95% CI 54.77–78.79%] compared to Europe [57.18%, 95% CI 52.35–62.01%], the Middle East [38.83%, 95% CI 27.47–50.19%] and East Asia [13.1%, 95% CI 0.14–26.06%]. No differences of GD prevalence were evident between February and August 2020. The data demonstrate that there is a marked geographical distribution of GD in COVID-19 patients which, possibly, might be explained by differences in diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 case definition during the early phase of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Cirillo
- Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanson Street, 3053 Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
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31
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Saniasiaya J, Islam MA, Abdullah B. Prevalence and Characteristics of Taste Disorders in Cases of COVID-19: A Meta-analysis of 29,349 Patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021; 165:33-42. [PMID: 33320033 DOI: 10.1177/0194599820981018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this meta-analysis is to assess the pooled prevalence of taste disorders and their subtypes in patients with COVID-19. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify studies published between December 1, 2019, and June 23, 2020, without language restrictions. There was no restriction on the study design; therefore, observational studies, clinical trials, and case series were included. In addition, preprints were considered if data of interest were reported. REVIEW METHODS Two authors independently screened articles for eligibility. A random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% CIs. Quality assessment was done with critical appraisal tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The robustness of the pooled estimates was checked by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS Fifty-nine studies were included (N = 29,349 patients, 64.4% female). The pooled prevalence of taste disorders in patients with COVID-19 was 48.1% (95% CI, 41.3%-54.8%). The prevalence of taste disorders in studies with objective assessments was higher as compared with subjective assessments (59.2% vs 47.3%). The disorders were observed in 55.2% of European patients; 61.0%, North American; 27.1%, Asian; 29.5%, South American; and 25.0%, Australian. Ageusia, hypogeusia, and dysgeusia were detected in 28.0%, 33.5%, and 41.3% of patients with COVID-19. We identified 91.5% of the included studies as high quality. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of taste disorders in patients with COVID-19 was 48.1%. Objective assessments have higher prevalence than subjective assessments. Dysgeusia is the most common subtype, followed by ageusia and hypogeusia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeyasakthy Saniasiaya
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Md Asiful Islam
- Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
| | - Baharudin Abdullah
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
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32
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Prajapati DP, Shahrvini B, Said M, Srinivas S, DeConde AS, Yan CH. Assessment of patient recognition of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated olfactory loss and recovery: a longitudinal study. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2021; 11:1529-1537. [PMID: 34096193 PMCID: PMC8222875 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background The clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) olfactory dysfunction remains poorly characterized, often limited by self‐reported measures. Given the logistical challenges of psychophysical testing, understanding the longitudinal relationship between self‐reported and quantitative measures can help accurately identify patients with persistent olfactory dysfunction. This study aimed to longitudinally correlate measured and subjective olfactory function in COVID‐19 subjects. Methods A prospective, longitudinal study evaluating subjective and measured olfaction was conducted on ambulatory COVID‐19 subjects. Olfaction scores were obtained using a visual analogue scale (VAS) (0 = anosmia, 10 = normosmia) and the validated 12‐item Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT). Weekly testing was performed until recovery (BSIT ≥ 9/12 and/or VAS = 10/10) or study completion. Results Eighty‐six polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐positive COVID‐19 subjects were recruited ≤3 days from diagnosis and 52 completed longitudinal testing. Among those with self‐reported smell loss at recruitment, similar levels (75.8%) of objective (BSIT ≥ 9/12) and subjective recovery were obtained using a VAS cutoff ≥8, yet only 30.3% reported complete subjective recovery (VAS = 10). Median times to objective and complete subjective olfactory recovery were 12 ± 2.3 and 24 ± 3.5 days, respectively. Although both measures showed chemosensory improvement, the distributions of objective and full subjective olfactory recovery differed significantly (log rank test χ2 = 6.46, degrees of freedom [df] = 1, p = 0.011). Overall correlation between BSIT and VAS scores was moderate to strong across longitudinal follow‐up (rs = 0.41–0.65). Conclusion Self‐reported and psychophysically measured COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction improve at similar levels and are moderately correlated longitudinally, yet there is a significant delay in complete subjective recovery. Psychophysical testing in conjunction with qualitative assessments may be considered for counseling and follow‐up of patients with COVID‐19 smell loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya P Prajapati
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Bita Shahrvini
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Mena Said
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Shanmukha Srinivas
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Adam S DeConde
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Carol H Yan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
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Abstract
Taste disorders, impacting well-being and physical health, can be caused by many etiologies including the use of medication. Recently, taste disturbance is also considered as one of the predominant symptoms of COVID-19 although its pathogenesis requires further research. Localized taste disorders may be overlooked considering that whole-mouth taste perception is insured through several mechanisms. Individuals often fail to discern taste from flavor, and interviews/surveys are insufficient to properly assess taste function. Hence, various taste assessment methods have been developed. Among them, psychophysical methods are most widely applied in a clinical context. Less-biased electrophysiological, imaging, or morphological methods are used to a much lesser degree. Overall, more research is needed in the field of taste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Zhu
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden University Hospital, Dresden, Germany
| | - T Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden University Hospital, Dresden, Germany.
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34
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Le Bon SD, Payen L, Prunier L, Steffens Y, Horoi M, Vaira LA, Hopkins C, Lechien JR, Saussez S. Making scents of loss of taste in COVID-19: Is self-reported loss of taste due to olfactory dysfunction? A prospective study using psychophysical testing. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2021; 11:1504-1507. [PMID: 34013654 PMCID: PMC8222876 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Léa Payen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, epiCURA, Mons, Belgium
| | - Léa Prunier
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Younès Steffens
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mihaela Horoi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luigi Angelo Vaira
- Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Biomedical Science PhD School, Biomedical Science Department, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Jérôme R Lechien
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, CHU Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sven Saussez
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, epiCURA, Mons, Belgium
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35
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Prem B, Liu DT, Besser G, Renner B, Mueller CA. Retronasal olfactory testing in early diagnosed and suspected COVID-19 patients: a 7-week follow-up study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 279:257-265. [PMID: 33987699 PMCID: PMC8118104 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-06826-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Olfactory dysfunction (OD) constitutes a major symptom in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Yet, most data on smell loss rely on the evaluation of orthonasal olfactory performance. Therefore, we aimed to assess retronasal olfactory function (ROF) over a period of several weeks in proven and suspected COVID-19 patients. METHODS One hundred and one subjects with suspected or laboratory-proven COVID-19 participated in this study. In patients with OD no longer than 4 weeks after initial symptom onset, ROF was measured with the 7-item Candy Smell Test ten times over 7 weeks. RESULTS Olfactory function was decreased in the investigated patients and remained decreased over the course of 7 weeks. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference of ROF between different measurement time points. However, self-assessment of smell and flavour improved significantly (p = 0.013 and p = 0.043), but did not show complete recovery. CONCLUSION The current investigation revealed significant improvements in subjective smell and flavour perception over the course of 7 weeks in proven and suspected COVID-19 patients suffering from acute OD. However, objectively measured ROF based on a screening test revealed no improvements within the same time period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Prem
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Tianxiang Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerold Besser
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bertold Renner
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Albert Mueller
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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36
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Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that smell and taste (chemosensory) disturbance is very common in the early stages of disease. This article addresses (i) why COVID-19 specifically targets the modalities of smell and possibly taste and what is the mechanism, (ii) what is the frequency of smell and taste loss and (iii) what is the overall prognosis. It is suggested that mouth-breathers may be at particular risk of COVID-19. Symptom-based questionnaires are likely to under-estimate the prevalence of chemosensory impairment by as much as 50%. The prevalence of smell loss is so high that a person who has normal olfaction on formal testing is unlikely to be infected significantly with Cov-2. Furthermore, someone without symptoms who has an abnormal smell test could still be infected and liable to spread the disease. Brief, low-cost, olfactory tests are available that would permit a high throughput in field stations and airports. A normal result might obviate the need for a nasopharyngeal swab for the Cov-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Hawkes
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark St, London, E1 2AT, UK
- To whom correspondence should be addressed.
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37
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Saniasiaya J, Islam MA, Abdullah B. Prevalence of Olfactory Dysfunction in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Meta-analysis of 27,492 Patients. Laryngoscope 2021; 131:865-878. [PMID: 33219539 PMCID: PMC7753439 DOI: 10.1002/lary.29286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Olfactory dysfunction has been observed as one of the clinical manifestations in COVID-19 patients. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the overall pooled prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analyses. METHODS PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify studies published between 1 December 2019 and 23 July 2020. We used random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and Cochran's Q test. Robustness of the pooled estimates was checked by different subgroup and sensitivity analyses This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020183768). RESULTS We identified 1162 studies, of which 83 studies (n = 27492, 61.4% female) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients was 47.85% [95% CI: 41.20-54.50]. We observed olfactory dysfunction in 54.40% European, 51.11% North American, 31.39% Asian, and 10.71% Australian COVID-19 patients. Anosmia, hyposmia, and dysosmia were observed in 35.39%, 36.15%, and 2.53% of the patients, respectively. There were discrepancies in the results of studies with objective (higher prevalence) versus subjective (lower prevalence) evaluations. The discrepancy might be due to false-negative reporting observed in self-reported health measures. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients was found to be 47.85% based on high-quality evidence. Due to the subjective measures of most studies pooled in the analysis, further studies with objective measures are advocated to confirm the finding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 Laryngoscope, 131:865-878, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeyasakthy Saniasiaya
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Malaya, Jalan UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Md Asiful Islam
- Department of HaematologySchool of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains MalaysiaKubang KerianMalaysia
| | - Baharudin Abdullah
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology‐Head and Neck SurgerySchool of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains MalaysiaKubang KerianMalaysia
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Orlandi RR, Kingdom TT, Smith TL, Bleier B, DeConde A, Luong AU, Poetker DM, Soler Z, Welch KC, Wise SK, Adappa N, Alt JA, Anselmo-Lima WT, Bachert C, Baroody FM, Batra PS, Bernal-Sprekelsen M, Beswick D, Bhattacharyya N, Chandra RK, Chang EH, Chiu A, Chowdhury N, Citardi MJ, Cohen NA, Conley DB, DelGaudio J, Desrosiers M, Douglas R, Eloy JA, Fokkens WJ, Gray ST, Gudis DA, Hamilos DL, Han JK, Harvey R, Hellings P, Holbrook EH, Hopkins C, Hwang P, Javer AR, Jiang RS, Kennedy D, Kern R, Laidlaw T, Lal D, Lane A, Lee HM, Lee JT, Levy JM, Lin SY, Lund V, McMains KC, Metson R, Mullol J, Naclerio R, Oakley G, Otori N, Palmer JN, Parikh SR, Passali D, Patel Z, Peters A, Philpott C, Psaltis AJ, Ramakrishnan VR, Ramanathan M, Roh HJ, Rudmik L, Sacks R, Schlosser RJ, Sedaghat AR, Senior BA, Sindwani R, Smith K, Snidvongs K, Stewart M, Suh JD, Tan BK, Turner JH, van Drunen CM, Voegels R, Wang DY, Woodworth BA, Wormald PJ, Wright ED, Yan C, Zhang L, Zhou B. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: rhinosinusitis 2021. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2021; 11:213-739. [PMID: 33236525 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 514] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR-RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR-RS-2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence-based findings of the document. METHODS ICAR-RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence-based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence-based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. RESULTS ICAR-RS-2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence-based management algorithm is provided. CONCLUSION This ICAR-RS-2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence-based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Amber U Luong
- University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
| | | | - Zachary Soler
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Kevin C Welch
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | | | | | | | | | - Claus Bachert
- Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Sun Yatsen University, Gangzhou, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David A Gudis
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Daniel L Hamilos
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Richard Harvey
- University of New South Wales and Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Amin R Javer
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Valerie Lund
- Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, UCLH, London, UK
| | - Kevin C McMains
- Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, San Antonio, TX
| | | | - Joaquim Mullol
- IDIBAPS Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alkis J Psaltis
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Luke Rudmik
- University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Raymond Sacks
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - De Yun Wang
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Carol Yan
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Luo Zhang
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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39
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Tsuchiya H. Oral Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 and Their Pathogenic Mechanisms: A Literature Review. Dent J (Basel) 2021; 9:32. [PMID: 33799583 PMCID: PMC7999671 DOI: 10.3390/dj9030032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been challenging for healthcare providers. The oral cavity is referred to as a target of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to review oral symptoms specific to COVID-19 patients from the point of view of symptom prevalence and pathogenesis and to speculate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying them. Scientific articles were retrieved by searching PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, medRxiv, and bioRxiv from 3 February 2020 to 31 December 2020, and they were reviewed by title, abstract, and text for relevance. The literature search indicated that COVID-19 patients frequently present with gustatory dysfunction, xerostomia, and oral mucosal lesions, while their prevalence is likely to vary by country, age, gender, and disease severity. Gustatory dysfunction and xerostomia appear at an early stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection and last relatively long. One of possible pathogenic mechanisms of both symptoms is attributed to the expression of viral cellular entry-relevant receptors in taste cells and salivary glands. Dental professionals who can first become aware of oral symptoms associated with COVID-19 will play a more active role in and make a greater contribution to diagnosis and prevention of COVID-19.
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40
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Smell and Taste Loss Recovery Time in COVID-19 Patients and Disease Severity. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10050966. [PMID: 33801170 PMCID: PMC7957474 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10050966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant proportion of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 report a new onset of smell or taste loss. The duration of the chemosensory impairment and predictive factors of recovery are still unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, temporal course and recovery predictors in patients who suffered from varying disease severity. Consecutive adult patients diagnosed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 via reverse-transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at two coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) Reference Hospitals were contacted to complete a survey reporting chemosensory loss, severity, timing and duration, nasal symptoms, smoking, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, comorbidities and COVID-19 severity. In a cross-sectional study, we contacted 182 patients and 150 responded. Excluding the critically ill patients, 38% reported gustatory and 41% olfactory impairment (74% severe/anosmia). Most of the patients (88%) recovered their sense of smell by two months (median: 11.5 days; IQR: 13.3). For 23%, the olfactory loss lasted longer than a month. There were no significant differences in the prevalence and duration of chemosensory loss between groups of varying COVID-19 severity, and sexes (all p > 0.05). Moderate hyposmia resolved quicker than more severe loss (p = 0.04). Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent in COVID-19. Most patients recover fast, but nearly one out of ten have not recovered in two months.
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Isenmann S, Haehner A, Hummel T. [Chemosensory disorders in Covid-19: Pathomechanisms and clinical relevance]. FORTSCHRITTE DER NEUROLOGIE-PSYCHIATRIE 2021; 89:281-288. [PMID: 33621990 DOI: 10.1055/a-1375-0761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In this review article, current information on the frequency and relevance of chemosensory disorders in Covid-19 was recorded, assigned pathophysiologically and statements on prognostic significance were derived. The results are based on a comprehensive literature search of all literature on this topic and our own experience in the treatment of patients with smell and taste disorders since the beginning of the pandemic.Current study results indicate that clinically less affected Covid-19 patients without inpatient treatment and who do not require ventilation often have disorders of the chemosensory system. In young patients and women in particular, they seem to be an indicator of a favorable prognosis for the course of the disease. Smell disorders can appear early, as the sole symptom or together with other symptoms of Covid-19 disease. It has not yet been clarified whether ageusia can occur independently or whether it is also felt in the context of anosmia. In the pandemic, the new occurrence of anosmia without congestion / obstruction/runny nose is probably an expression of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 and should always give rise to quarantine and testing for SARS-CoV-2. The smell disorder in Covid-19 mostly seems to be temporary; It is not yet possible to conclusively assess whether there is usually a full restitution. The therapeutic approaches already established for other postviral olfactory disorders (e. g. olfactory training) are also used here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Isenmann
- Klinik für Neurologie und klinische Neurophysiologie, St. Josef Krankenhaus Moers
| | - Antje Haehner
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Riechen und Schmecken, Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Riechen und Schmecken, Klinik für HNO-Heilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden
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42
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Cao AC, Nimmo ZM, Mirza N, Cohen NA, Brody RM, Doty RL. Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective study in healthcare workers using self-administered testing. World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021; 8:S2095-8811(21)00015-9. [PMID: 33614178 PMCID: PMC7879131 DOI: 10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although few studies have employed objective measures to quantify these symptoms, especially dysgeusia. Reports of unrecognized anosmia in COVID-19 patients suggests that self-reported measures are insufficient for capturing patients with chemosensory dysfunction. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of recent COVID-19 infection on chemosensory function and demonstrate the use of at-home objective smell and taste testing in an at-risk population of healthcare workers. METHODS Two hundred and fifty healthcare workers were screened for possible loss of smell and taste using online surveys. Self-administered smell and taste tests were mailed to respondents meeting criteria for elevated risk of infection, and one-month follow-up surveys were completed. RESULTS Among subjects with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, 73% reported symptoms of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction. Self-reported smell and taste loss were both strong predictors of COVID-19 positivity. Subjects with evidence of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection (<45 days) had significantly lower olfactory scores but equivalent gustatory scores compared to other subjects. There was a time-dependent increase in smell scores but not in taste scores among subjects with prior infection and chemosensory symptoms. The overall infection rate was 4.4%, with 2.5% reported by PCR swab. CONCLUSION Healthcare workers with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection had reduced olfaction and normal gustation on self-administered objective testing compared to those without infection. Rates of infection and chemosensory symptoms in our cohort of healthcare workers reflect those of the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin C. Cao
- Perelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Zachary M. Nimmo
- Perelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Natasha Mirza
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Noam A. Cohen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Administration Medical CenterPhiladelphiaPAUSA
- Monell Chemical Senses CenterPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Robert M. Brody
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Richard L. Doty
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck SurgeryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
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43
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Aziz M, Goyal H, Haghbin H, Lee-Smith WM, Gajendran M, Perisetti A. The Association of "Loss of Smell" to COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Med Sci 2021; 361:216-225. [PMID: 33349441 PMCID: PMC7604015 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of olfactory dysfunction or "loss of smell" has been reported as an atypical symptom in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature to evaluate the prevalence of "loss of smell" in COVID-19 as well as its utility for prognosticating the disease severity. METHODS An exhaustive search of the PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LitCovid NIH, and WHO COVID-19 database was conducted through August 6th, 2020. All studies reporting the prevalence of "loss of smell" (anosmia and/or hyposmia/microsmia) in laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were included. Pooled prevalence for cases (positive COVID-19 through reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR) and/or serology IgG/IgM) and controls (negative RT-PCR and/or serology) was compared, and the odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) and the p-value were calculated. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 51 studies with 11074 confirmed COVID-19 patients were included. Of these, 21 studies used a control group with 3425 patients. The symptom of "loss of smell" (OR: 14.7, CI: 8.9-24.3) was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group when compared to the control group. Seven studies comparing severe COVID-19 patients with- and without "loss of smell" demonstrated favorable prognosis for patients with "loss of smell" (OR: 0.36, CI 0.27-0.48). CONCLUSIONS Olfactory dysfunction or "loss of smell" is a prevalent symptom in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, COVID-19 patients with "loss of smell" appear to have a milder course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Aziz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
| | - Hemant Goyal
- The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
| | - Hossein Haghbin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
| | | | - Mahesh Gajendran
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, Texas
| | - Abhilash Perisetti
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
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44
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Kim JW, Han SC, Jo HD, Cho SW, Kim JY. Regional and Chronological Variation of Chemosensory Dysfunction in COVID-19: a Meta-Analysis. J Korean Med Sci 2021; 36:e40. [PMID: 33496090 PMCID: PMC7834899 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction are frequently reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the reported prevalence of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction varies widely, and the reason for the inter-study differences is unclear. Hence, in this meta-analysis, we performed subgroup analyses to investigate the factors that contribute to the inter-study variability in the prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. METHODS Out of 943 citations, we included 55 eligible studies with 13,527 patients with COVID-19 for a meta-analysis. Calculating the data extracted from each study, the weighted summary prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was estimated using a Freeman-Tukey transformation with models based on random-effects assumptions. A meta-analysis of variance compared the prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction according to regional, chronological, demographic, and methodologic factors, respectively. RESULTS The overall pooled prevalence rates of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction were 51.4% and 47.5%, respectively, in the random-effect model. In subgroup analyses, the prevalence rates of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction were significantly different among four geographical regions (both P < 0.001, respectively). Although the prevalence rates of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction did not significantly differ according to the time of enrollment, the subgroup analyses including only studies from the same geographical region (Europe) revealed a significant difference in olfactory dysfunction according to the time of enrollment. CONCLUSION The regional and chronological differences in the prevalence rates of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions partly explain the wide inter-study variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Whun Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Seung Cheol Han
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hyung Dong Jo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Sung Woo Cho
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jin Youp Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program of Medical Informatics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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45
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Bussière N, Mei J, Lévesque-Boissonneault C, Blais M, Carazo S, Gros-Louis F, De Serres G, Dupré N, Frasnelli J. Chemosensory Dysfunctions Induced by COVID-19 Can Persist up to 7 Months: A Study of Over 700 Healthcare Workers. Chem Senses 2021; 46:6356408. [PMID: 34423831 PMCID: PMC8499810 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have revealed either self-reported chemosensory alterations in large groups or objective quantified chemosensory impairments in smaller populations of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. However, due to the great variability in published results regarding COVID-19-induced chemosensory impairments and their follow-up, prognosis for chemosensory functions in patients with such complaints remains unclear. Our objective is to describe the various chemosensory alterations associated with COVID-19 and their prevalence and evolution after infection. A cross-sectional study of 704 healthcare workers with a RT–PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between 2020 February 28 and 2020 June 14 was conducted 3–7 months after onset of symptoms. Data were collected with an online questionnaire. Outcomes included differences in reported chemosensory self-assessment of olfactory, gustatory, and trigeminal functions across time points and Chemosensory Perception Test scores from an easy-to-use at-home self-administered chemosensory test. Among the 704 participants, 593 (84.2%) were women, the mean (SD) age was 42 (12) years, and the questionnaire was answered on average 4.8 (0.8) months after COVID-19. During COVID-19, a decrease in olfactory, gustatory, and trigeminal sensitivities was reported by 81.3%, 81.5%, and 48.0%, respectively. Three to 7 months later, reduced sensitivity was still reported by 52.0%, 41.9%, and 23.3%, respectively. Chemosensory Perception Test scores indicate that 19.5% of participants had objective olfactory impairment. These data suggest a significant proportion of COVID-19 cases have persistent chemosensory impairments at 3–7 months after their infection, but the majority of those who had completely lost their olfactory, gustatory, and trigeminal sensitivities have improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Bussière
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Jie Mei
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | | | - Mathieu Blais
- Axe Médecine régénératrice, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Sara Carazo
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Francois Gros-Louis
- Axe Médecine régénératrice, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Gaston De Serres
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Dupré
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.,Axe Neurosciences, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Johannes Frasnelli
- Department of Anatomy, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
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46
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Mazzatenta A, Neri G, D'Ardes D, De Luca C, Marinari S, Porreca E, Cipollone F, Vecchiet J, Falcicchia C, Panichi V, Origlia N, Di Giulio C. Smell and Taste in Severe CoViD-19: Self-Reported vs. Testing. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:589409. [PMID: 33344476 PMCID: PMC7745760 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.589409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most striking reported symptoms in CoViD-19 is loss of smell and taste. The frequency of these impairments and their specificity as a potential central nervous system function biomarker are of great interest as a diagnostic clue for CoViD-19 infection as opposed to other similar symptomatologic diseases and because of their implication in viral pathogenesis. Here severe CoViD-19 was investigated by comparing self-report vs. testing of smell and taste, thus the objective severity of olfactory impairment and their possible correlation with other symptoms. Because a significant discrepancy between smell and taste testing vs. self-report results (p < 0.001) emerges in our result, we performed a statistical analysis highlighting disagreement among normosmia (p < 0.05), hyposmia, severe hyposmia, and anosmia (p < 0.001) and, in hypogeusia and severe hypogeusia, while no differences are observed in normogeusia and ageusia. Therefore, we analyzed the olfactory threshold by an objective test revealing the distribution of hyposmic (34%), severe hyposmic (48%), and anosmic (13%) patients in severe CoViD-19. In severe CoViD-19 patients, taste is lost in 4.3% of normosmic individuals, 31.9% of hyposmic individuals, 46.8% of severe hyposmic individuals, and 17% of anosmic individuals. Moreover, 95% of 100 CoViD-19 patients objectively tested were affected by smell dysfunction, while 47% were affected by taste dysfunction. Furthermore, analysis by objective testing also highlighted that the severity of smell dysfunction in CoViD-19 subjects did not correlate with age and sex. In conclusion, we report by objective testing that the majority of CoViD-19 patients report severe anosmia, that most of the subjects have olfactory impairment rather than taste impairment, and, finally, that the olfactory impairment correlate with symptom onset and hospitalization (p < 0.05). Patients who exhibit severe olfactory impairment had been hospitalized for about a week from symptom onset; double time has taken place in subjects with normosmia. Our results may be limited by the relatively small number of study participants, but these suggest by objective testing that hyposmia, severe hyposmia, and anosmia may relate directly to infection severity and neurological damage. The smell test assessment could be a potential screening symptom that might contribute to the decision to test suspected cases or guide quarantine instructions, further therapeutic approach, and evaluation of neurological damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mazzatenta
- Neurophysiology, Olfaction and Chemoreception Laboratory, Physiology and Physiopathology Section, Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences Department, ‘G. d'Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giampiero Neri
- Neurophysiology, Olfaction and Chemoreception Laboratory, Physiology and Physiopathology Section, Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences Department, ‘G. d'Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Damiano D'Ardes
- Medicine and Aging Sciences Department, 'G. d'Annunzio'University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Carlo De Luca
- Neurophysiology, Olfaction and Chemoreception Laboratory, Physiology and Physiopathology Section, Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences Department, ‘G. d'Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Ettore Porreca
- Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, 'G. d'Annunzio'University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Cipollone
- Medicine and Aging Sciences Department, 'G. d'Annunzio'University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Jacopo Vecchiet
- Medicine and Aging Sciences Department, 'G. d'Annunzio'University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Panichi
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Unità Sanitaria Locale Toscana Nord Ovest-Versilia Hospital, Camaiore, Italy
| | - Nicola Origlia
- Neuroscience Institute, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Camillo Di Giulio
- Neurophysiology, Olfaction and Chemoreception Laboratory, Physiology and Physiopathology Section, Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences Department, ‘G. d'Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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47
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Gözen ED, Aliyeva C, Tevetoğlu F, Karaali R, Balkan İİ, Yener HM, Özdoğan HA. Evaluation of Olfactory Function With Objective Tests in COVID-19-Positive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. EAR, NOSE & THROAT JOURNAL 2020; 100:169S-173S. [PMID: 33236918 PMCID: PMC7689254 DOI: 10.1177/0145561320975510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Olfactory dysfunction is relatively high in coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence
of olfactory disorder objectively in patients with laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19 infection. Material and Method: The study included 31 healthy controls and 59 COVID-19 patients who were
diagnosed and treated in the COVID departments in a tertiary hospital. The
patients with corona virus infection were screened by a questionnaire and
were classified into 2 groups as either group 2 (patients without
self-reported smell loss) or group 3 (patients with self-reported smell
loss). Age and gender matched healthy controls who do not have chronic nasal
condition or nasal surgery history comprised the control group (group 1).
All of the patients and subjects in the control group were tested by the
Sniffin’ Sticks test. All of the answers and scores were recorded, and the
comparisons were made. Results: The rate of self-reported smell and taste loss in all COVID-19 patients in
this study was 52.5% and 42%, respectively. There was a significant
difference in threshold, discrimination, identification, and Threshold,
Discrimination, Identification (TDI) scores between groups 1 and 2. When the
comparisons between group 1 and 3 were made, again threshold,
discrimination, identification, and TDI scores were significantly different.
The comparison between groups 2 and 3 demonstrated a significant difference
in discrimination, identification, and TDI scores, but threshold score was
not different statistically. With questionnaire, the rate of olfactory
dysfunction in COVID-19 patients was 52.5%, but with objective test, the
rate was calculated as 83%. Conclusion: Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions are common in COVID-19 patients.
According to findings with the objective test method in this study, smell
disorder in COVID-19 patients was much higher than those detected by
questionnaires.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Deniz Gözen
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, 64298Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Avcılar/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Chinara Aliyeva
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, 64298Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Avcılar/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Fırat Tevetoğlu
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, 64298Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Avcılar/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Rıdvan Karaali
- Infectious Disease Department, 64298Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Avcılar/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - İlker İnanç Balkan
- Infectious Disease Department, 64298Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Avcılar/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - H Murat Yener
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, 64298Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Avcılar/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - H Ahmet Özdoğan
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, 64298Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Avcılar/İstanbul, Turkey
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48
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S1-Leitlinie: Neurologische Manifestationen bei COVID-19. DGNEUROLOGIE 2020. [PMCID: PMC7550844 DOI: 10.1007/s42451-020-00254-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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49
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von Bartheld CS, Hagen MM, Butowt R. Prevalence of Chemosensory Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Reveals Significant Ethnic Differences. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2944-2961. [PMID: 32870641 PMCID: PMC7571048 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A significant proportion of people who test positive for COVID-19 have chemosensory deficits. However, the reported prevalence of these deficits in smell and taste varies widely, and the reason for the differences between studies is unclear. We determined the pooled prevalence of such chemosensory deficits in a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched the COVID-19 portfolio of the National Institutes of Health for studies that reported the prevalence of smell or taste deficits or both in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. One-hundred-four studies reporting on 38 198 patients qualified and were subjected to a systematic review and meta-analysis. Estimated random prevalence of olfactory dysfunction was 43.0%, that of taste dysfunction was 44.6%, and that of overall chemosensory dysfunction was 47.4%. We examined the effects of age, gender, disease severity, and ethnicity on chemosensory dysfunction. Prevalence of smell or taste dysfunction or both decreased with older age, male gender, and disease severity. Ethnicity was highly significant: Caucasians had a three times higher prevalence of chemosensory dysfunctions (54.8%) than Asians (17.7%). The finding of geographic differences points to two causes that are not mutually exclusive. A virus mutation (D614G) may cause differing infectivity, while at the host level genetic, ethnicity-specific variants of the virus-binding entry proteins may facilitate virus entry in the olfactory epithelium and taste buds. Both explanations have major implications for infectivity, diagnosis, and management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S. von Bartheld
- Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Molly M. Hagen
- School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Rafal Butowt
- Department of Molecular Cell Genetics and Department of Anatomy, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
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50
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Prajapati DP, Shahrvini B, MacDonald BV, Crawford KL, Lechner M, DeConde AS, Yan CH. Association of subjective olfactory dysfunction and 12-item odor identification testing in ambulatory COVID-19 patients. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2020; 10:1209-1217. [PMID: 32964657 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute loss of smell and taste are well-recognized symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet the correlation between self-reported and psychophysical olfactory function remains unclear. Understanding the reliability of self-reported smell loss in ambulatory cases can assess the utility of this screening measure. METHODS A prospective, longitudinal study evaluating patient-reported and measured olfactory function using the validated 12-item Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT) was conducted on adult outpatients with COVID-19. Patient-reported olfaction scores using a visual analog scale (VAS) were obtained at baseline, time of COVID-19 testing, and time of BSIT completion. Linear associations between VAS and BSIT were evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficient and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of VAS scores were calculated. Logistic regression identified characteristics associated with accurate assessment of olfactory function. RESULTS A total of 81 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 positive subjects, of whom 54 self-reported smell loss, were prospectively recruited ≤5 days from diagnosis date between May 8, 2020, and July 8, 2020. Self-reported smell loss had good discriminative ability in identifying abnormal BSIT (area under receiver operating curve [AUC] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 0.92). A VAS <5 demonstrated sensitivity of 0.62 and specificity of 0.94 for predicting hyposmia (BSIT ≤8) with accuracy of 82.7%, whereas a VAS <9 had highest sensitivity at 0.86. Moderate bivariate linear associations were found between VAS and BSIT scores (rs = 0.59, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Self-reported olfactory loss associated with COVID-19 has a strong ability to predict abnormal olfactory function though the 2 measures are moderately correlated. Subjective olfactory assessment is useful in screening olfactory dysfunction at early disease time points when psychophysical testing cannot be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya P Prajapati
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
| | - Bita Shahrvini
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
| | - Bridget V MacDonald
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
| | - Kayva L Crawford
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
| | - Matt Lechner
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Adam S DeConde
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
| | - Carol H Yan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA
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