Severity of Anosmia as an Early Symptom of COVID-19 Infection May Predict Lasting Loss of Smell

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Jerome R. Lechien¹  Sven Saussez¹  Fabrice Journe¹  Stephane Hans¹  Carlos M. Chiesa-Estomba¹  Vincent Mustin⁶  Eline Beckers⁶  Luigi A. Vaira⁷  Giacomo De Riu⁷  Claire Hopkins⁸ 

[1] COVID-19 Task Force of the Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS);Department of Human Anatomy and Experimental Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, UMONS Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons;Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles;Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Foch Hospital, School of Medicine, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Paris Saclay University);Laboratory of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Institute Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles;Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Universitario Donostia;Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, University Hospital of Sassari;King's College, United Kingdom

关键词: anosmia;    COVID-19;    recovery;    neuroepithelia;    objective test;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2020.582802

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Introduction: To evaluate the recovery rate of loss of smell (LOS) with objective olfactory testing in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Adults with confirmed COVID-19 and self-reported sudden LOS were prospectively recruited through a public call from the University of Mons (Belgium). Epidemiological and clinical data were collected using online patient-reported outcome questionnaires. Patients benefited from objective olfactory evaluation (Sniffin-Sticks-test) and were invited to attend for repeated evaluation until scores returned to normal levels. Results: From March 22 to May 22, 2020, 88 patients with sudden-onset LOS completed the evaluations. LOS developed after general symptoms in 44.6% of cases. Regarding objective evaluation, 22 patients (25.0%) recovered olfaction within 14 days following the onset of LOS. The smell function recovered between the 16th and the 70th day post-LOS in 48 patients (54.5%). At the time of final assessment at 2 months, 20.5% of patients ( N = 18) had not achieved normal levels of olfactory function. Higher baseline severity of olfactory loss measured using Sniffin-Sticks was strongly predictive of persistent loss ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: In the first 2 months, 79.5% of patients may expect to have complete recovery of their olfactory function. The severity of olfactory loss, as detected at the first Sniffin-Sticks-test, may predict the lack of mid-term recovery.

【 授权许可】

CC BY