Prospective Study in 355 Patients With Suspected COVID‐19 Infection: Value of Cough, Subjective Hyposmia, and Hypogeusia (original) (raw)
Related papers
2020
There is a relationship between smell and taste disturbances and coronavirus infection. These symptoms have been considered the best predictor of coronavirus infection, for this reason, it was decided to evaluate the predictive value of the smell and taste test and its association with the results of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-RT and rapid diagnostic tests. in the diagnosis of pathology. Methodology: 248 patients divided into 3 groups: asymptomatic, symptomatic without chemosensory disorders, and chemosensory disorders alone. All of them underwent SARS-CoV-2 PCR-RT, a rapid diagnostic test and a test of Venezuelan smell and basic taste at the beginning. Weekly follow-up with smell and taste test and SARS-CoV-2 PCR-RT until recovery. Results: 20.56% of patients had smell and taste disorders to a variable degree and were positive by SARS-CoV-PCR-RT. 2.15.3% of patients with chemosensory disorders were negative for COVID-19. The positive predictive value of the smell and taste test was 57.3; Sensi...
Clinical Otolaryngology, 2020
, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and on 5 May 2020, the World Health Organisation added "new loss of taste or smell" to their list of symptoms related to Covid-19, respectively. Public Health England (PHE) only included loss of smell and taste as official symptoms on 20th May. However, whether individual hospitals were including smell and taste disturbances in their initial work-up for Covid-19 diagnosis is unknown. Several reports have now demonstrated the prevalence of these symptoms in Covid-19 infected individuals with important implications on diagnosis and management. 1 Due to the high incidence of Covid-19 infection which has been reported in the healthcare setting, we sought to understand the symptomatology of a cohort of healthcare personnel in order to assess current management guidelines, including how many healthcare workers were permitted to continue working despite being infected.
Olfactory and taste disorders in healthcare workers with COVID-19 infection
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Purpose Severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by COVID-19 has spread globally for the last few months. Healthcare workers (HCW) are overexposed and infection rates are higher than in the rest of the population. Strict clinical assessment is paramount to detect suspicious cases. In this context, olfactory or taste dysfunction (OTD) appears as an early and frequent symptom. Evaluating its presence in early stages plays an important role nowadays. Methods We performed a descriptive observational single-center study among 256 HCW at Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada affected by COVID-19 and confirmed using RT-PCR. A telephonic interview was performed, after obtaining oral informed consent. Results OTD was present in up to 70% of the cases as an early symptom, including mild-to-severe cases. The extent of these sensory deficits lasted an average of 11 days. In 26% of the patients, these sensory alterations persisted for over a month. Conclusion OTD is reported as an early symptom among HCW with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Its strong association with test positivity is useful in the management of the infection and should be enough to indicate preventive isolation. We consider that OTD needs to be included in clinical screening questionnaires in HCW.
World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2021
Background: Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although few studies have employed objective measures to quantify these symptoms, especially dysgeusia. Reports of unrecognized anosmia in COVID-19 patients suggests that self-reported measures are insufficient for capturing patients with chemosensory dysfunction. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of recent COVID-19 infection on chemosensory function and demonstrate the use of at-home objective smell and taste testing in an at-risk population of healthcare workers. Methods: Two hundred and fifty healthcare workers were screened for possible loss of smell and taste using online surveys. Self-administered smell and taste tests were mailed to respondents meeting criteria for elevated risk of infection, and one-month follow-up surveys were completed. Results: Among subjects with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, 73% reported symptoms of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction. Self-reported smell and taste loss were both strong predictors of COVID-19 positivity. Subjects with evidence of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection (<45 days) had significantly lower olfactory scores but equivalent gustatory scores compared to other subjects. There was a timedependent increase in smell scores but not in taste scores among subjects with prior infection and chemosensory symptoms. The overall infection rate was 4.4%, with 2.5% reported by PCR swab. Conclusion: Healthcare workers with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection had reduced olfaction and normal gustation on self-administered objective testing compared to those without infection. Rates of infection and chemosensory symptoms in our cohort of healthcare workers reflect those of the general public.
Clinical significance of smell and taste dysfunction and other related factors in COVID-19
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2021
Purpose The objective of this study is to evaluate smell and taste dysfunction (STD) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive and negative patients, and to assess the factors associated with STD in COVID-19 positive patients. Methods Patients who had been tested with the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for COVID-19 were identified, and according to the RT-PCR test results, patients were separated into Positive and Negative Groups. A telephone-based assessment was applied to both groups using the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Anosmia Reporting Tool. Patients in Positive Group were also asked to rate STD, nasal breathing, and anxiety in three different time periods (pre-/during-/post-COVID) using the visual analog scale (VAS). Results A total of 53 COVID-19 positive and 51 negative patients completed the surveys. STD was eightfold more frequent (OR 8.19; CI 95% 3.22-20.84) in the Positive Group. Of the 53 COVID-19 positive patients, 32 reported STD and 21 did not. 'Ground-glass appearance' on chest-computed tomography was more frequent and median lymphocyte count was significantly lower in COVID-19 positive patients with STD. During-COVID STD and nasal breathing VAS scores were significantly lower than the pre-and post-COVID scores. During-COVID STD scores were significantly correlated with anxiety scores (Spearman's rho-0.404, p = 0.022) but not correlated with nasal breathing scores. Conclusion STD may be related to increased inflammatory response as well as damage of olfactory neuronal pathway or non-neuronal olfactory mucosa. Understanding the exact cause of chemosensory impairment in COVID-19 can be helpful in explaining the pathophysiology of the disease.
Is loss of sense of smell a diagnostic marker in COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Clinical Otolaryngology, 2020
Aims 1. To systematically review the currently available evidence investigating the association between olfactory dysfunction (OD) and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 2. To analyse the prevalence of OD in patients who have tested positive on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for COVID-19. 2. To perform a meta-analysis of patients presenting with olfactory dysfunction, during the pandemic, and to investigate the Positive Predictive Value for a COOVID-19 positive result in this population. 3. To assess if olfactory dysfunction could be used as a diagnostic marker for COVID-19 positivity and aid public health approaches in tackling the current outbreak. Methods We systematically searched MedLine (PubMed), Embase, Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC), Medrxiv, the Cochrane Library, the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, NIHR Dissemination centre, Clinical Evidence, National Health Service Evidence and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence to identify the current published evidence which associates coronaviridae or similar RNA viruses with anosmia. The initial search identified 157 articles. 145 papers were excluded following application of our exclusion criteria. The 12 remaining articles, that presented evidence on the association between COVID-19 and olfactory dysfunction, were critically analysed. Results Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved OD has been shown to be the strongest predictor of COVID-19 positivity when compared to other symptoms in logistic regression analysis. In patients who had tested positive for COVID-19 there was a prevalence of 62% of OD. In populations of patients who are currently reporting OD there is a positive predictive value of 61% for a positive COVID-19 result. Conclusion Our review has shown that there is already significant evidence which demonstrates an association between OD and the novel coronavirus-COVID-19. It is unclear if this finding is unique to this coronavirus as individual viral phenotypes rarely present in such concentrated large numbers. We have demonstrated that OD is comparatively more predictive for COVID-19 positivity compared to other associated symptoms. We recommend that people who develop OD during the pandemic should be selfisolate and this guidance should be adopted internationally to prevent transmission.
Frequency of COVID-19 Infection in Patients with Sudden Loss of Smell
Bangladesh Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 2021
Background: The novel human corona virus disease (COVID-19) is the fifth documented pandemic in history since the 1918 flu pandemic. Along with other clinical features, loss of smell has been reported as a prime symptom in COVID-19 positive patients. The aim is to determine the frequency of COVID-19 infection in patients who came with a history of the sudden development of loss of smell. Materials & Methods: This study was done in Uttara Crescent Hospital, a private hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected retrospectively from hospital records in between 01 April 2020 and 30 November 2020, total 48 patients were included in this series. All the patients came with history of fever, sore throat, cough, loss of smell and altered taste, proper history were taken and examined. The patient with suspected COVID-19 infection was sent for RT-PCR testing. About 24 patients were included in the study with the history of loss of smell with or without other symptoms from the recorded d...
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Introduction It is reported that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can affect the sense of smell and taste of infected people. The pathobiology of this virus is still incompletely known, and it is therefore important to explore the impact of COVID-19 infections on olfactory and gustatory functions. We aimed to review current evidence on olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions caused by COVID-19. Methods This study was a narrative review performed in 2020 to investigate the olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions of the COVID-19. We searched eight keywords in six databases to determine the related documents on the main objective of the study. To discover studies meeting the inclusion criteria, the authors screened the titles and abstracts of the identified articles. The appropriate studies were included and their results were discussed to make the final selection. Results We have studied 24 current articles on the olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions due to COVID-19. A review of current studies has shown that we have a surge in the spread of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions that happened during the epidemic of COVID-19 infection. Most studies (95.8%) have confirmed the symptoms of anosmia in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A review of current studies showed that, in addition to anosmia, evidence of ageusia and dysgeusia (parageusia) was also seen in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion The results of our study support recent reports that SARS-CoV-2 may infect oral and nasal tissues and cause olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions. These findings may aid future research on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19 consequences.
BJGP open, 2022
BACKGROUND among the manifestations of COVID-19 are Taste and Smell Disorders (TSDs). AIM The aim of the study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of TSDs and other associated symptoms to estimate predictive values for determining SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective observational study. METHODS a study of the sensitivity and specificity of TSDs has been carried out using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 as the Gold Standard value. Logistic regressions adjusted for age and sex were performed to identify additional symptoms that might be associated with COVID-19. RESULTS the results are based on 226 healthcare workers with clinical symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, 116 with positive PCR and 111 with negative PCR. TSDs had an OR of 12.43 (CI 0.95 6.33-26.19), sensitivity 60.34% and specificity 89.09%. In the logistic regression model, the association of TSD, fever or low-grade fever, shivering, dyspnoea, arthralgia an...
Otolaryngologia Polska, 2020
Objectives: To determine the incidence of smell and taste disorders in our health department and to analyse the factors that could be associated with these symptoms in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted an observational descriptive study of all patients with COVID-19 in our health area diagnosed between 2020/03/10 and 2020/04/14. Factors related to smell and taste disorders were analysed. Results: A total of 126 patients, 63 women and 63 men, aged 16–80 years, were included. As many as 69 patients (62.7%) presented hyposmia, and 58 (46%) of them had anosmia. A total of 75 patients (59.5%) presented hypogeusia, and 57 (45.2%) of them had ageusia. The risk factors that were most commonly associated with these disorders were the female sex (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 2.43 for smell disorders and 2.44 for taste disorders), allergic rhinitis (aOR 3.34 for smell disorders) and a younger age. A protective factor was arterial hypertension (aOR 0.51 for smell disorders and 0.35 for ...