Large study on post-COVID dysosmia and dysgeusia Dysgeusia Coronavirus Disease COVID dysgeusia taste Smell Olfactory Gustatory Dysfunction medrxivpreprint HarvardChanSPH BrighamWomens
By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D.Feb 6 2023Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. The abrupt and profound loss of smell and taste are two unique symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 , caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus. It has been observed that about 4% of patients who recover from COVID-19 show persistent signs of a distorted sense of smell or taste 6-12 months later.
An association between olfactory dysfunction and expression of the SARS-CoV2 receptor has been documented. However, the mechanisms underlying persistent smell and taste dysfunction remain unclear. The situation is made more complex by the fact that there is no neuronal distress or dysfunction.
Key Findings Medical predispositions and threats, particularly nasal disease, was a key focus area of the study. This is because such conditions could make people more susceptible to sensory dysfunction after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal congestion, and environmental allergies showed significantly different frequencies across the major waves of the pandemic.
Concluding Remarks Lack of gender and racial/ethnical diversity was a fundamental limitation of the study, although the registry was provided in English and Spanish. It could be helpful to study the differences among patients infected at different time points within the pandemic. Future research could delve into this issue by comparing mechanistic data on post-COVID olfactory and gustatory dysfunction and clinical characteristics.
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