Self-reported Taste and Smell Disorders in Patients with COVID-19: Distinct Features in China.

Abstract

Last December 2019, a cluster of viral pneumonia cases identified as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China. We aimed to explore the frequencies of nasal symptoms in patients with COVID-19, including loss of smell and taste, as well as their presentation as the first symptom of the disease and their association with the severity of COVID-19. In this retrospective study, 1206 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were included and followed up by telephone one month after discharged from Tongji Hospital, Wuhan. Demographic data, laboratory values, comorbidities, symptoms, and numerical rating scale scores (0-10) of nasal symptoms were extracted from the hospital medical records, and confirmed or reevaluated by the telephone follow-up. From patients (n=1172) completing follow-up, 199 (17%) subjects had severe COVID-19 and 342 (29.2%) reported nasal symptoms. 20.6% COVID-19 patients had loss of taste (median score=6), while 11.4% had loss of smell (median score=5). Loss of taste scores, but not loss of smell scores, were significantly increased in severe vs. non-severe COVID-19 patients. Interleukin (IL)-6 and lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels were positively correlated with loss of taste scores. About 80% of COVID-19 patients recovered from smell and taste dysfunction in 2 weeks. In this cohort, only 1 out of 10 hospital admitted patients had loss of smell while 1 out of 5 reported loss of taste which was associated to severity of COVID-19. Most patients recovered smell and taste dysfunctions in 2 weeks.

• Authors: Jia Song, Yi-Ke Deng, Hai Wang, Zhi-Chao Wang, Bo Liao, Jin Ma, Chao He, Li Pan, Yang Liu, Isam Alobid, De-Yun Wang, Ming Zeng, Joaquim Mullol, Zheng Liu
• Journal: Current medical science (Curr Med Sci) Vol. 41 Issue 1 Pg. 14-23 (Feb 2021) ISSN: 2523-899X [Electronic] China
• PMID: 33582900 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• IL6 protein, human
• Interleukin-6
• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase

Topics

• Aged
• COVID-19 (blood, complications, epidemiology)
• China
• Female
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Olfaction Disorders (blood, epidemiology, virology)
• Recovery of Function
• Retrospective Studies
• Self Report
• Severity of Illness Index
• Taste Disorders (blood, virology)