Investigation on the Loss of Taste and Smell and Consequent Psychological Effects: A Cross-Sectional Study on Healthcare Workers Who Contracted the COVID-19 Infection

Frontiers in Public Health

Ingrid Santini¹  Giulia Abram¹  Luisa Dudine¹  Vera Baroni¹  Marta Paris¹  Claudia Canaletti¹  Paolo Manganotti²  Federico Ronchese³  Corrado Negro⁴  Barbara Gregoretti⁵  Valentina Pesavento⁶  Alberta Lunardelli⁶  Fabiola Giudici⁷ 

[1] Clinic of Psychology, Department of Hospital Care, University Hospital and Health Services, Trieste, Italy;Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy;Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Integrated Neuroscience and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital and Health Services, Trieste, Italy;Clinical Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy;Medical Directorate, University Hospital and Health Services, Trieste, Italy;Rehabilitation Division, Department of Integrated Neuroscience and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital and Health Services, Trieste, Italy;Unit of Biostatistics, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy;

关键词: COVID-19;    taste disorder;    smell loss;    psychological distress;    healthcare workers;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2021.666442

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between psychological distress and taste and sense of smell dysfunctions on healthcare workers (HCW) who contracted the COVID-19 infection in the midst of the disease outbreak. Reports of sudden loss of taste and smell which persist even after recovery from COVID-19 infection are increasingly recognized as critical symptoms for COVID-19 infections. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study on COVID-19 HCW (N = 104) who adhered to respond to a phone semistructured interview addressing the virus symptoms and associated psychological distress. Data were collected from June to September 2020. Findings confirm the association between experienced taste/olfactory loss and emotional distress and suggest that dysfunctions of taste and smell correlate positively with anxiety and depression. Furthermore, their psychological impact tends to persist even after the recovery from the disease, suggesting the need for appropriate psychological interventions to prevent people from developing more serious or long-lasting psychological disorders and, as far as HCW, to reduce the risk of work-related distress.

【 授权许可】

CC BY