Olfactory Dysfunction and Phantosmia in Patients With COVID-۱۹ in Northern Iran

Background: One of the most common symptoms of COVID-۱۹ infection is Olfactory Dysfunction (OD). Objectives: This study aims to investigate OD and phantosmia in COVID-۱۹ cases from northern Iran. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were ۴۰۰ patients with COVID-۱۹ infection in Rasht, Iran from March ۲۰۱۹ to September ۲۰۲۰. All the patients were evaluated in terms of OD and then followed up for ۳ months face-to-face, by telephone call, or online. Results: Among ۴۰۰ patients, ۳۷.۷۵% had OD (۱۹% hyposmia, ۱۰.۷۵% primary phantosmia, and ۸% anosmia) during the initiation of the disease, but ۱۲۱ (۳۰.۲۵%) including nearly ۶۵% of anosmic and/or hyposmic cases reported phantosmia at different time intervals of followup visits. Moreover, ۶۵.۳۸% of patients reported acute onset of OD. The prevalence of OD was significantly higher in patients aged <۴۰ years (P=۰.۰۰۱) and in females (P=۰.۰۰۲). OD improved in about ۹۰% of patients within ۳ months. Peripheral oxygen saturation was better in anosmic cases and C-reactive protein level was higher in normosmic cases at their first visit. No significant difference was found in terms of other laboratory results. Conclusion: OD is a common complication of COVID-۱۹ infection, but seems not to be permanent. It is more common in young patients, females, and those with mild COVID-۱۹ infection.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anosmia ، COVID-۱۹ ، Olfaction Dysfunction