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- Title
Olfactory recovery following omicron variant infection: a psychophysical prospective case–control study with six-month follow up.
- Authors
Vaira, Luigi Angelo; Boscolo-Rizzo, Paolo; Lechien, Jerome R; Mayo-Yáñez, Miguel; Petrocelli, Marzia; Pistidda, Laura; Salzano, Giovanni; Maglitto, Fabio; Hopkins, Claire; De Riu, Giacomo
- Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the recovery of olfactory function at six months in individuals infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 omicron variant, using psychophysical tests. Methods: A prospective case–control study that included severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 patients infected in February and March 2022 was conducted. Patients underwent the Sniffin' Sticks test within 10 days of infection and again after at least 6 months. The olfactory scores were compared with those of a control group. Results: In all, 102 patients and 120 controls were enrolled in the study. At baseline, 26 patients (25.5 per cent) self-reported smell loss. The median threshold, discrimination and identification score was 33.6 (interquartile range, 12.5) for the cases and 36.5 (interquartile range, 4.38) for the controls (p < 0.001). Based on the threshold, discrimination and identification scores, 12 controls and 34 patients reported olfactory dysfunction (p < 0.001). Eighty cases underwent re-evaluation at six months; the median threshold, discrimination and identification score was 37.1 (interquartile range, 4.75) with no significant differences compared with the controls. Conclusion: Six months after infection, the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in patients did not differ significantly from the control population.
- Subjects
COVID-19; CONVALESCENCE; CASE-control method; PSYCHOLOGICAL tests; COMPARATIVE studies; SMELL disorders; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; LONGITUDINAL method
- Publication
Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 2023, Vol 137, Issue 12, p1395
- ISSN
0022-2151
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S0022215123000877