Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction as an Early Identifier of COVID-19 in Adults and Children: An International Multicenter Study
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Contributors
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of olfactory or gustatory dysfunction in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Study Design: Multicenter case series. Setting: Five tertiary care hospitals (3 in China, 1 in France, 1 in Germany). Subjects and Methods: In total, 394 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–confirmed COVID-19-positive patients were screened, and those with olfactory or gustatory dysfunction were included. Data including demographics, COVID-19 severity, patient outcome, and the incidence and degree of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction were collected and analyzed. The Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to quantify olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, respectively. All subjects at 1 hospital (Shanghai) without subjective olfactory complaints underwent objective testing. Results: Of 394 screened subjects, 161 (41%) reported olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction and were included. Incidence of olfactory and/or gustatory disorders in Chinese (n = 239), German (n = 39), and French (n = 116) cohorts was 32%, 69%, and 49%, respectively. The median age of included subjects was 39 years, 92 of 161 (57%) were male, and 10 of 161 (6%) were children. Of included subjects, 10% had only olfactory or gustatory symptoms, and 19% had olfactory and/or gustatory complaints prior to any other COVID-19 symptom. Of subjects with objective olfactory testing, 10 of 90 demonstrated abnormal chemosensory function despite reporting normal subjective olfaction. Forty-three percent (44/102) of subjects with follow-up showed symptomatic improvement in olfaction or gustation. Conclusions: Olfactory and/or gustatory disorders may represent early or isolated symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. They may serve as a useful additional screening criterion, particularly for the identification of patients in the early stages of infection.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 714-721 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States) |
Volume | 163 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2020 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
PubMed | 32539586 |
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ORCID | /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/146645719 |
ORCID | /0000-0001-9473-3018/work/148606202 |
ORCID | /0000-0003-1311-8000/work/158767568 |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- anosmia, COVID-19, COVID-19 screening, dysgeusia, gustatory dysfunction, olfactory dysfunction, SARS-CoV-2