Olfactory Dysfunction in COVID-۱۹ Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital; A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Introduction: Sudden onset of olfactory dysfunction (OD) manifesting as hyposmia and/or anosmia occurred in many COVID-۱۹ patients, with a frequency as high as ۸۵.۶%. Given the morbidity and mortality of COVID-۱۹, it is important to recognize the symptoms early so that the infected person can be diagnosed, isolated and treated early. Hence, this study was undertaken to know the prevalence of Sino-nasal symptoms with special reference to olfactory dysfunction in COVID-۱۹ patients.Materials and Methods: It is a cross sectional observational study involving ۱۶۰ COVID-۱۹ patients aged ۱۸ to ۱۰۰ years selected by universal sampling. OD was analyzed and compared with various inflammatory markers and Sino-nasal symptoms. Patients were followed up until their discharge from the hospital or until death due to COVID-۱۹ related health issues.Results: Out of ۱۶۰ subjects included in the study, ۶۱.۸۸ % of the study participants were males and ۳۸.۱۳% were females. The mean age was ۴۴.۵۰ ± ۱۶.۴۳ years. A total of ۵۱ patients (۳۱.۸۷%) developed OD. Fifty one (۳۱.۸۷%) patients developed OD (anosmia/hyposmia). Among the individuals with anosmia/hyposmia, majority of patients (n=۲۶) (۵۰.۹۸%) complained of more than ۷۵% loss of smell sensation.  Mean duration of anosmia/hyposmia was ۹.۹۲ ± ۳.۷۱ days. OD correlated with serum ferritin levels (p=۰.۰۴۵۳).Conclusion:Anosmia/hyposmia was found in significant proportion of patients with covid-۱۹ which correlated with the disease severity and serum ferritin levels and hence can serve as surrogate marker of disease severity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anosmia ، Coronavirus ، Smell