Factors Associated With Persisting Olfactory Dysfunction After COVID-19.

Factors Associated With Persisting Olfactory Dysfunction After COVID-19.

Publication date: Sep 21, 2024

Fortunately, the majority of COVID-19 patients recover from olfactory dysfunction (OD) within the first couple of weeks. However, from approximately 5% up to 20% continue to suffer from OD even more than 1 year after the onset. Nonetheless, factors associated with long-lasting OD are hardly known. The aim of this study was to identify favourable and disadvantageous markers of persisting OD in COVID-19 patients. Sixty-six patients (46 female; mean age: 39. 9 years) that suffer from OD longer than 6 months due to laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection have participated in this longitudinal study. Participants completed comprehensive psychophysical chemosensory tests (i. e., Sniffin’ Sticks = TDI) and questionnaires twice at our department-on average 219 +/- 80 (T-1) and 489 +/- 89 (T-2) days after the onset of symptoms, respectively. Olfactory recovery rates were associated with demographic factors and questionnaires using linear regression analysis. Patients below 40 years of age improved better (TDI: 4. 1 +/- 4. 3 vs. 0. 7 +/- 5. 8; p = 0. 008) and achieved statistically significant higher scores (TDI: 31. 5 +/- 4. 0 vs. 27. 3 +/- 6. 7; p = 0. 033) regarding psychophysical chemosensory tests. Furthermore, linear regression analysis revealed that parosmia was associated with worse orthonasal smell function (T-1: β = -0. 346, p = 0. 004; T-2: β = -0. 384, p = 0. 001), especially concerning identification subtest (T-1: β = -0. 395, p = 0. 001; T-2: β = -0. 398, p 

Concepts Keywords
40years COVID‐19
Covid long‐COVID
Disadvantageous olfaction
Otolaryngol parosmia
smell

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
pathway REACTOME SARS-CoV-2 Infection
drug DRUGBANK Tropicamide
disease MESH parosmia

Original Article

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