Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients Infected with 2019 Novel Coronavirus

• Published in: Iranian journal of otorhinolaryngology 2021-05, Vol.33 (116), p.163-171
• Main Authors: Bakhshaee, Mehdi, Barzegar-Amini, Maral, Motedayen, Zohreh, Khojasteh-Taheri, Roshanak, Rafiee, Mahdi, Amini, Mahnaz, Layegh, Parvaneh, Hashemzadeh, Kamila, Omidvar, Delaram, Hwang, Peter H, Hosseinpoor, Masoomeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: covid-19; olfactory dysfunction; Original; smell disorder
• ISSN: 2251-7251; 2251-726X
• DOI: 10.22038/ijorl.2021.51614.2750

The current study aimed at investigating the occurrence and features of olfactory dysfunction in patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Patients with laboratory and clinically confirmed COVID-19 infection were enrolled in this longitudinal study. They were managed in either the inpatient or outpatient setting. The demographic, clinical, and outcome data were retrieved from patients' medical records. Olfactory dysfunction features, including the onset pattern, duration, and recovery time were investigated. The visual analog scale (VAS) was utilized as a self-rating subjective measurement of olfactory function. According to the results, the mean age of the patients (n=502) was obtained at 46.8±18.5 years; moreover, 52.4% and 47.6% of cases were female and male, respectively. It was also revealed that 35.4% and 64.5% of the subjects were outpatients and hospitalized, respectively. Based on the findings, 178 (38.4%) subjects had olfactory dysfunction. The mean values of VAS in hyposmic patients were estimated at 2.5±2.5, 8.3 ±2.1, and 9.4±1.6 at the first evaluation, in 2 weeks, and after 1 month of follow-up (P