Smell and taste recovery in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: a 60-day objective and prospective study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Smell and taste recovery in coronavirus disease 2019 patients

T2 - a 60-day objective and prospective study

AU - Vaira, L. A.

AU - Hopkins, C.

AU - Petrocelli, M.

AU - Lechien, J. R.

AU - Chiesa-Estomba, C. M.

AU - Salzano, G.

AU - Cucurullo, M.

AU - Salzano, F. A.

AU - Saussez, S.

AU - Boscolo-Rizzo, P.

AU - Biglioli, F.

AU - De Riu, G.

PY - 2020/8/1

Y1 - 2020/8/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: The long-term recovery rate of chemosensitive functions in coronavirus disease 2019 patients has not yet been determined. METHOD: A multicentre prospective study on 138 coronavirus disease 2019 patients was conducted. Olfactory and gustatory functions were prospectively evaluated for 60 days. RESULTS: Within the first 4 days of coronavirus disease 2019, 84.8 per cent of patients had chemosensitive dysfunction that gradually improved over the observation period. The most significant increase in chemosensitive scores occurred in the first 10 days for taste and between 10 and 20 days for smell. At the end of the observation period (60 days after symptom onset), 7.2 per cent of the patients still had severe dysfunctions. The risk of developing a long-lasting disorder becomes significant at 10 days for taste (odds ratio = 40.2, 95 per cent confidence interval = 2.204-733.2, p = 0.013) and 20 days for smell (odds ratio = 58.5, 95 per cent confidence interval = 3.278-1043.5, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Chemosensitive disturbances persisted in 7.2 per cent of patients 60 days after clinical onset. Specific therapies should be initiated in patients with severe olfactory and gustatory disturbances 20 days after disease onset.

AB - BACKGROUND: The long-term recovery rate of chemosensitive functions in coronavirus disease 2019 patients has not yet been determined. METHOD: A multicentre prospective study on 138 coronavirus disease 2019 patients was conducted. Olfactory and gustatory functions were prospectively evaluated for 60 days. RESULTS: Within the first 4 days of coronavirus disease 2019, 84.8 per cent of patients had chemosensitive dysfunction that gradually improved over the observation period. The most significant increase in chemosensitive scores occurred in the first 10 days for taste and between 10 and 20 days for smell. At the end of the observation period (60 days after symptom onset), 7.2 per cent of the patients still had severe dysfunctions. The risk of developing a long-lasting disorder becomes significant at 10 days for taste (odds ratio = 40.2, 95 per cent confidence interval = 2.204-733.2, p = 0.013) and 20 days for smell (odds ratio = 58.5, 95 per cent confidence interval = 3.278-1043.5, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Chemosensitive disturbances persisted in 7.2 per cent of patients 60 days after clinical onset. Specific therapies should be initiated in patients with severe olfactory and gustatory disturbances 20 days after disease onset.

KW - Ageusia

KW - Anosmia

KW - Coronavirus

KW - COVID-19

KW - Gustatory Dysfunction

KW - Hypogeusia

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Smell

KW - Taste

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091565210&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0022215120001826

DO - 10.1017/S0022215120001826

M3 - Article

C2 - 32782030

AN - SCOPUS:85091565210

SN - 0022-2151

VL - 134

SP - 703

EP - 709

JO - The Journal of laryngology and otology

JF - The Journal of laryngology and otology

IS - 8

ER -