Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort study
Abstract Background A rapidly evolving evidence suggests that smell and taste disturbance are common symptoms in COVID-19 infection. As yet there are no reports on duration and recovery rates. We set out to characterise patients reporting new onset smell and taste disturbance during the COVID-19 pan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-020-00423-8 |
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| author | Claire Hopkins Pavol Surda Emily Whitehead B. Nirmal Kumar |
| author_facet | Claire Hopkins Pavol Surda Emily Whitehead B. Nirmal Kumar |
| author_sort | Claire Hopkins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A rapidly evolving evidence suggests that smell and taste disturbance are common symptoms in COVID-19 infection. As yet there are no reports on duration and recovery rates. We set out to characterise patients reporting new onset smell and taste disturbance during the COVID-19 pandemic and report on early recovery rates. Methods Online Survey of patients reporting self-diagnosed new onset smell and taste disturbance during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1 week follow-up. Results Three hundred eighty-two patents completed bot an initial and follow-up survey. 86.4% reported complete anosmia and a further 11.5% a very severe loss of smell at the time of completing the first survey. At follow-up 1 week later, there is already significant improvement in self-rating of severity of olfactory loss. 80.1% report lower severity scores at follow-up, 17.6% are unchanged and 1.9% are worse. 11.5% already report compete resolution at follow up, while 17.3% report persistent complete loss of smell, with reported duration being 1 to over 4 weeks. This is reflected in the overall cumulative improvement rate of 79% patients overall in the interval between surveys. Conclusions A review of the growing evidence base supports the likelihood that out cohort have suffered olfactory loss as part of COVID-19 infection. While early recovery rates are encouraging, long term rates will need to be further investigated and there may be an increase in patients with persistent post-viral loss as a result of the pandemic. We further call for loss of sense of smell to be formerly recognised as a marker of COVID-19 infection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a07c9772afd041aaa9ada74f2af220c8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1916-0216 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery |
| spelling | doaj-art-a07c9772afd041aaa9ada74f2af220c82025-02-03T00:22:57ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162020-05-014911610.1186/s40463-020-00423-8Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort studyClaire Hopkins0Pavol Surda1Emily Whitehead2B. Nirmal Kumar3Guy’s and St Thomas’ HospitalsGuy’s and St Thomas’ HospitalsNewstead Wood SchoolEdge Hill University Medical SchoolAbstract Background A rapidly evolving evidence suggests that smell and taste disturbance are common symptoms in COVID-19 infection. As yet there are no reports on duration and recovery rates. We set out to characterise patients reporting new onset smell and taste disturbance during the COVID-19 pandemic and report on early recovery rates. Methods Online Survey of patients reporting self-diagnosed new onset smell and taste disturbance during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1 week follow-up. Results Three hundred eighty-two patents completed bot an initial and follow-up survey. 86.4% reported complete anosmia and a further 11.5% a very severe loss of smell at the time of completing the first survey. At follow-up 1 week later, there is already significant improvement in self-rating of severity of olfactory loss. 80.1% report lower severity scores at follow-up, 17.6% are unchanged and 1.9% are worse. 11.5% already report compete resolution at follow up, while 17.3% report persistent complete loss of smell, with reported duration being 1 to over 4 weeks. This is reflected in the overall cumulative improvement rate of 79% patients overall in the interval between surveys. Conclusions A review of the growing evidence base supports the likelihood that out cohort have suffered olfactory loss as part of COVID-19 infection. While early recovery rates are encouraging, long term rates will need to be further investigated and there may be an increase in patients with persistent post-viral loss as a result of the pandemic. We further call for loss of sense of smell to be formerly recognised as a marker of COVID-19 infection.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-020-00423-8COVID-19AnosmiaEpidemiologyOlfactory dysfunction |
| spellingShingle | Claire Hopkins Pavol Surda Emily Whitehead B. Nirmal Kumar Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort study Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery COVID-19 Anosmia Epidemiology Olfactory dysfunction |
| title | Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort study |
| title_full | Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort study |
| title_short | Early recovery following new onset anosmia during the COVID-19 pandemic – an observational cohort study |
| title_sort | early recovery following new onset anosmia during the covid 19 pandemic an observational cohort study |
| topic | COVID-19 Anosmia Epidemiology Olfactory dysfunction |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-020-00423-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT clairehopkins earlyrecoveryfollowingnewonsetanosmiaduringthecovid19pandemicanobservationalcohortstudy AT pavolsurda earlyrecoveryfollowingnewonsetanosmiaduringthecovid19pandemicanobservationalcohortstudy AT emilywhitehead earlyrecoveryfollowingnewonsetanosmiaduringthecovid19pandemicanobservationalcohortstudy AT bnirmalkumar earlyrecoveryfollowingnewonsetanosmiaduringthecovid19pandemicanobservationalcohortstudy |