Journal Article

Self-reported smell and taste recovery in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: a one-year prospective study

Sacchet, Erica, Antonucci, Paolo, D’Alessandro, Andrea, Boscolo-Rizzo, Paolo, Guida, Francesco, Marcuzzo, Alberto Vito, Capriotti, Vincenzo, Tofanelli, Margherita, Gardenal, Nicoletta, Marzolino, Riccardo, Vaira, Luigi Angelo, Lazzarin, Chiara, Hopkins, Claire, Tirelli, Giancarlo, Borsetto, Daniele, Zanelli, Enrico, Polesel, Jerry, Cragnolini, Fiordaliso

2022

Overview

Purpose The aim of the present study was to estimate the 1 year prevalence and recovery rate of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction in a series of subjects with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19. Methods Prospective study based on the SNOT-22, item “sense of smell or taste” and additional outcomes. Results 268/315 patients (85.1%) completing the survey at baseline also completed the follow-up interview. The 12 months prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction was 21.3% (95% CI 16.5–26.7%) . Of the 187 patients who complained of COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction at baseline, 130 (69.5%; 95% CI 62.4–76.0%) reported complete resolution of smell or taste impairment, 41 (21.9%) reported a decrease in the severity, and 16 (8.6%) reported the symptom was unchanged or worse 1 year after onset. The risk of persistence was higher for patients reporting a baseline SNOT-22 score ≥ 4 (OR = 3.32; 95% CI 1.32–8.36) as well as for those requiring ≥ 22 days for a negative swab (OR = 2.18; 95% CI 1.12–4.27). Conclusion A substantial proportion of patients with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19 characterized by new onset of chemosensory dysfunction still complained on altered sense of smell or taste 1 year after the onset.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Subject: COVID-19 / Head and Neck Surgery / Humans / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Neurosurgery / Olfaction Disorders - epidemiology / Olfaction Disorders - etiology / Otorhinolaryngology / Prospective Studies / SARS-CoV-2 / Self Report / Short Communication / Smell / Taste / Taste Disorders - diagnosis / Taste Disorders - epidemiology / Taste Disorders - etiology