Parosmia in patients with post-infectious olfactory dysfunction in the era of COVID-19-associated olfactory impairment

Objectives A large number of patients with olfactory impairment are affected by parosmia or phantosmia. This study aimed to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of parosmia. Methods We performed a retrospective data analysis of patients consulting at our Smell and Taste Outpatient Cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:HNO 2024-09, Vol.72 (9), p.649-656
Main Authors: Gunder, Nadine, Hummel, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Allergology
Comorbidity
COVID-19 - complications
Female
Germany - epidemiology
Head and Neck Surgery
Humans
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Olfaction Disorders - diagnosis
Olfaction Disorders - etiology
Olfaction Disorders - physiopathology
Original
Original Articles
Otorhinolaryngology
Plastic Surgery
Retrospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
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Summary:Objectives A large number of patients with olfactory impairment are affected by parosmia or phantosmia. This study aimed to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of parosmia. Methods We performed a retrospective data analysis of patients consulting at our Smell and Taste Outpatient Clinic. A total of 297 patients were included (203 women, mean age 44.4 ± 13.7 years). Olfactory function was quantified using the “Sniffin’ Sticks” composite TDI (odor t hreshold, d etermination, and i dentification) score. The presence of qualitative olfactory impairment was assessed trough medical history and a parosmia questionnaire. Results Most of the patients showed olfactory impairment after an infection with SARS-CoV‑2 (84%) and were diagnosed with parosmia (49%). Patients with parosmia (PAR) ( n  = 201) were significantly younger compared to the group without parosmia (noPAR; n  = 92) (PAR 43.2 ± 13 years vs. noPAR 47 ± 15.1 years, p  = 0.03) and had a slightly shorter duration of disease, without reaching statistical significance (PAR 10.3 ± 4.9 months, noPAR 13.6 ± 37.6 months, p  = 0.23). They also had higher TDI scores (PAR 24.3 ± 7 points, noPAR 21.4 ± 8.2 points, p  = 0.003). Conclusions Patients affected by parosmia were younger and had a better olfactory function compared to patients without parosmia.
ISSN:0017-6192
1433-0458
1433-0458
DOI:10.1007/s00106-024-01470-7