Quantitative but not qualitative flavor recognition impairments in COVID-19 patients.
Ir J Med Sci 2021;
191:1759-1766. [PMID:
34562193 PMCID:
PMC8475319 DOI:
10.1007/s11845-021-02786-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background
Smell and taste dysfunctions (STDs) are symptoms associated with COVID-19 syndrome, even if their incidence is still uncertain and variable.
Aims
In this study, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on chemosensory function have been investigated using both a self-reporting questionnaire on smell and flavor perception, and a simplified flavor test.
Methods
A total of 111 subjects (19 hospitalized [HOS] and 37 home-isolated [HI] COVID-19 patients, and 55 healthy controls [CTRL]) were enrolled in the study. They received a self-evaluation questionnaire and a self-administered flavor test kit. The flavor test used consists in the self-administration of four solutions with a pure olfactory stimulus (coffee), a mixed olfactory-trigeminal stimulus (peppermint), and a complex chemical mixture (banana).
Results
After SARS-CoV-2 infection, HOS and HI patients reported similar prevalence of STDs, with a significant reduction of both smell and flavor self-estimated perception. The aromas of the flavor test were recognized by HI and HOS COVID-19 patients similarly to CTRL; however, the intensity of the perceived aromas was significantly lower in patients compared to controls.
Conclusion
Data reported here suggests that a chemosensory impairment is present after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the modified “flavor test” could be a novel self-administering objective screening test to assess STDs in COVID-19 patients.
Clinical trial registration no. NCT04840966; April 12, 2021, retrospectively registered
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11845-021-02786-x.
Collapse