[en] The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the olfactory function in a series of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 and who had undergone psychophysical olfactory assessment prior to infection. Individuals unexposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent a psychophysical evaluation of smell with the Sniffin' Sticks test. The subjects were followed prospectively and included in the study if they developed SARS-CoV-2 infection with a second test 60 days after recovery. At the 60-day follow-up of the 41 included subjects, 2 (4.9%) self-reported persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD). The differences between TDI scores before and after infection were statistically significant (37 [interquartile range (IQR), 34.25-39.25] vs 34.75 [IQR, 32.25-38]; p = .021). Analyzing the individual olfactory domains, the differences were significant for threshold (T) (9.75 [IQR, 9-11.25] vs 8.25 [IQR, 7.25-10.25]; p = .009) but not for odor discrimination (D) (p = .443) and identification (I) (p = .159). SARS-CoV-2 causes a significant reduction in the olfactory function, in particular affecting the olfactory threshold, even in subjects who do not self-report an OD.
Disciplines :
Otolaryngology
Author, co-author :
Vaira, Luigi Angelo ; Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy ; Biomedical Science Department, PhD School of Biomedical Science, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Lechien, Jérome ; Université de Mons - UMONS > Faculté de Psychologie et des Sciences de l'Educatio > Service de Métrologie et Sciences du langage
Salzano, Giovanni; Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy ; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
Maglitto, Fabio; Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy ; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
Boscolo-Rizzo, Paolo; Section of Otolaryngology, Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Hopkins, Claire; ENT department, King's College, London, UK ; British Rhinological Society (President), London, UK
De Riu, Giacomo; Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Language :
English
Title :
SARS-CoV-2 Effects on Psychophysical Olfactory Scores: Prospective Study With Evaluation Before and 60-Days After Infection.
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