Background: Using an age and gender matched-pair case-control study, we aimed to estimate the long-term prevalence of psychophysical olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis impairment at least one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection considering the background of chemosensory dysfunction in non-COVID-19 population. Methodology: This case-controlled study included 100 patients who were home-isolated for mildly symptomatic COVID-19 between March and April 2020. One control regularly tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection and always tested negative was matched to each case according to gender and age. Chemosensory function was investigated by a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation including ortho- and retronasal olfaction and an extensive assessment of gustatory function. Differences in chemosensory parameters were evaluated through either Fisher’s exact test or Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The psychophysical assessment of chemosensory function took place after a median of 401 days from the first SARS-CoV-2 positive swab. The evaluation of orthonasal smell identified 46% and 10% of cases and controls, respectively, having olfactory dysfunction, with 7% of COVID-19 cases being functionally anosmic. Testing of gustatory function revealed a 27% of cases versus 10% of controls showing a gustatory impairment. Nasal trigeminal sensitivity was significantly lower in cases compared to controls. Persistent chemosensory impairment was associated with emotional distress and depression. Conclusion: More than one year after the onset of COVID-19, cases exhibited an excess of olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis disturbances compared to matched-pair controls with these symptoms being associated to emotional distress and depression.

High prevalence of long-term olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis dysfunction in post-covid-19 patients: A matched case-control study with one-year follow-up using a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation / Boscolo-Rizzo, P.; Hummel, T.; Hopkins, C.; Dibattista, M.; Menini, A.; Spinato, G.; Fabbris, C.; Emanuelli, E.; D'Alessandro, A.; Marzolino, R.; Zanelli, E.; Cancellieri, E.; Cargnelutti, K.; Fadda, S.; Borsetto, D.; Vaira, L. A.; Gardenal, N.; Polesel, J.; Tirelli, G.. - In: RHINOLOGY. - ISSN 0300-0729. - 59:6(2021), pp. 517-527. [10.4193/Rhin21.249]

High prevalence of long-term olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis dysfunction in post-covid-19 patients: A matched case-control study with one-year follow-up using a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation

Vaira L. A.;
2021-01-01

Abstract

Background: Using an age and gender matched-pair case-control study, we aimed to estimate the long-term prevalence of psychophysical olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis impairment at least one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection considering the background of chemosensory dysfunction in non-COVID-19 population. Methodology: This case-controlled study included 100 patients who were home-isolated for mildly symptomatic COVID-19 between March and April 2020. One control regularly tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection and always tested negative was matched to each case according to gender and age. Chemosensory function was investigated by a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation including ortho- and retronasal olfaction and an extensive assessment of gustatory function. Differences in chemosensory parameters were evaluated through either Fisher’s exact test or Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The psychophysical assessment of chemosensory function took place after a median of 401 days from the first SARS-CoV-2 positive swab. The evaluation of orthonasal smell identified 46% and 10% of cases and controls, respectively, having olfactory dysfunction, with 7% of COVID-19 cases being functionally anosmic. Testing of gustatory function revealed a 27% of cases versus 10% of controls showing a gustatory impairment. Nasal trigeminal sensitivity was significantly lower in cases compared to controls. Persistent chemosensory impairment was associated with emotional distress and depression. Conclusion: More than one year after the onset of COVID-19, cases exhibited an excess of olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis disturbances compared to matched-pair controls with these symptoms being associated to emotional distress and depression.
2021
High prevalence of long-term olfactory, gustatory, and chemesthesis dysfunction in post-covid-19 patients: A matched case-control study with one-year follow-up using a comprehensive psychophysical evaluation / Boscolo-Rizzo, P.; Hummel, T.; Hopkins, C.; Dibattista, M.; Menini, A.; Spinato, G.; Fabbris, C.; Emanuelli, E.; D'Alessandro, A.; Marzolino, R.; Zanelli, E.; Cancellieri, E.; Cargnelutti, K.; Fadda, S.; Borsetto, D.; Vaira, L. A.; Gardenal, N.; Polesel, J.; Tirelli, G.. - In: RHINOLOGY. - ISSN 0300-0729. - 59:6(2021), pp. 517-527. [10.4193/Rhin21.249]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/313083
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