Open AccessOlfactory Dysfunction and Sinonasal Symptomatology in COVID‐19: Prevalence, Severity, Timing, and Associated Characteristics
Author(s) -
Speth Marlene M.,
SingerCornelius Thirza,
Oberle Michael,
Gengler Isabelle,
Brockmeier Steffi J.,
Sedaghat Ahmad R.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599820929185
Subject(s) - anosmia , hyposmia , rhinorrhea , medicine , severity of illness , covid-19 , gastroenterology , prospective cohort study , surgery , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Objective Olfactory dysfunction (OD)—hyposmia or anosmia—is a symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). We sought to better determine prevalence, severity, and timing of OD in COVID‐19 relative to other sinonasal and pulmonary symptoms. Study Design Prospective, cross‐sectional. Setting Regional/cantonal hospital. Subjects In total, 103 patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR)–based testing. Methods All patients testing positive for COVID‐19 at Kantonsspital Aarau over a 6‐week period were approached. Timing and severity (at its worst, on scale of 0 [none], 1 [mild], 2 [moderate], and 3 [severe]) of OD, loss of taste, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea/mucus production, fever, cough and shortness of breath (SOB) were assessed for each patient. Results Prevalence of OD was 61.2%, and severity of OD was strongly correlated with severity of loss of taste experienced (ρ = 0.87, P <. 001). OD was experienced on the first day of COVID‐19 by 8.7% and overall occurred at median infection day 3 (mean, 3.4; range, 0‐12). Most experiencing OD reported anosmia, and mean severity of all with OD was moderate to severe (mean [SD], 2.7 [0.6]). Nasal obstruction (49.5%) and rhinorrhea (35.0%) were frequently reported but not correlated with OD. SOB was more severe in patients with OD. OD was associated negatively with older age (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93‐0.99; P =. 007) and positively with female sex (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 0.98‐6.19; P =. 056). Conclusions OD is highly prevalent during COVID‐19, occurring early and severely, often in conjunction with loss of taste. OD is associated negatively with older age and positively with female sex. Patients with OD may also experience more severe SOB.