Methods
Study design and participants
Olfactory testing
Gustatory testing
Participants’ self-rating of olfactory function (SOF) and gustatory function (SGF)
Statistical methods
Results
Olfactory function 4 months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection
Parameter | All participants N = 43 | Normal olfactory function N = 17 | Reduced olfactory function N = 18 | Anosmia N =8 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Age, years | ||||
Mean ± SD | 62 ± 14.7 | 66.0 ± 15.7 | 55.9 ± 11.5 | 68.1 ± 15.2 |
Gender, n | ||||
Female | 25 | 9 | 11 | 5 |
Male | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
CCCS, n | 20 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
TDIa score | ||||
Mean ± SD | 22.0 ± 5.9 | 26.2 ± 3.8 | 22.0 ± 3.7 | 13.0 ± 2.2 |
Range | 9.5–34.3 | 17.0–34.3 | 16.25–28.0 | 9.5–15.8 |
SOF, n | ||||
Very good | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Good | 26 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
Moderate | 11 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
Poor | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
CSg score | ||||
Mean ± SD | 23.5 ± 2.7 | 23.7 ± 1.9 | 23.6 ± 3.1 | 22.9 ± 3.4 |
Range | 15–28 | 19–27 | 15–27 | 19–28 |
SGF | ||||
Very good | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Good | 26 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
Moderate | 15 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
Poor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Parameter | Participants with self-reported chemosensory complaints during the outbreak N = 19 | Participants without self-reported chemosensory complaints during the outbreak N = 24 | p |
---|---|---|---|
Age, years | |||
Mean ± SD | 60.7 ± 14.8 | 63.3 ± 14.8 | 0.441 |
Gender, n | |||
Female | 14 | 11 | 0.069 |
Male | 5 | 13 | |
CCCS, n | 13 | 7 | 0.011 |
TDIa score | |||
Mean ± SD | 21.9 ± 6.4 | 21.8 5.5 | 0.912 |
Range | 9.5–34.3 | 10.5–29.5 | |
Age- and gender-related olfactory function, n | |||
Normal | 6 | 10 | 0.958 |
Reduced | 10 | 9 | |
Anosmia | 3 | 5 | |
SOF, n | |||
Very good | 0 | 2 | 0.010 |
Good | 9 | 17 | |
Moderate | 6 | 5 | |
Poor | 4 | 0 | |
CSg score | |||
Mean ± SD | 24.4 ± 2.1 | 22.5 ± 3.1 | 0.054 |
Range | 19–28 | 15–27 | |
Gustatory function, n | |||
Normogeusia | 19 | 20 | 0.065 |
Hypogeusia | 0 | 4 | |
Ageusia | 0 | 0 | |
SGF, n | |||
Very good | 0 | 2 | 0.569 |
Good | 12 | 14 | |
Moderate | 7 | 8 | |
Poor | 0 | 0 | |
Parosmia, n | 3 | 0 | NA |
Parageusia, n | 1 | 0 | NA |
Gustatory function 4 months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection
Discussion
Practical conclusion
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Olfactory dysfunction is a highly prevalent problem 4 months after acute SARS-CoV‑2 infection.
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A sudden chemosensory disorder is likely to be a strong hallmark of SARS-CoV‑2 infection during the pandemic.
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Self-reporting of olfactory function seems to be suitable for qualifying sudden olfactory loss in infected persons.
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Even 4 months after the onset of symptoms, there was a strong correlation between olfactory self-assessment and validated testing.