Background The number of confirmed Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in Indonesia had reached 1.4 million cases from a total population of 270 million. Smell and/or taste disturbances are frequently found as early symptoms of COVID-19 patients. Our study aimed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of anosmia and/or ageusia in COVID-19. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study identifies the proportion and severity of smell and taste disturbances in COVID-19 patients. Subjects were recruited by consecutive sampling. All subjects were required to fill in the questionnaire modified from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Anosmia Reporting Tool (AAO-HNS ART). Symptoms severity was measured with a numerical rating scale of 0–10; 0–3 is defined as mild, 4–6 as moderate, and 7–10 as severe. Results Out of 51 subjects, 34 (66.7%) suffered from smell and/or taste disturbances. Twenty-nine of 34 subjects (85.3%) suffered from smell disturbance, and 24 of 34 subjects (70.5%) suffered from taste disturbance. Severe smell disturbance occurred in 68.9% of subjects, while severe taste disturbance occurred in 50%. The median onset was three days for smell disturbance and four days for taste disturbance after any symptoms of COVID-19. Conclusion Smell and/or taste disturbances were early symptoms of COVID-19. These symptoms commonly occurred within the first four days of clinical onset and frequently manifested in severe conditions. Highlights • Studies shows that anosmia and ageusia are frequently found in COVID-19 patients. • This study aimed at investigating occurrence of anosmia or ageusia in COVID-19. • Out of 51 subjects observed, 34 (66.7%) suffered from anosmia and/or ageusia. • Anosmia and ageusia commonly occurred within four days of COVID-19 symptoms onset.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Anosmia, Ageusia, Indonesia, 【초록키워드】 cross-sectional, severity, surgery, Symptom, coronavirus disease-2019, Characteristics, ART, Reporting, Mild, Smell, moderate, questionnaire, patients, COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 symptom, Neck, subject, total population, material, symptoms of COVID-19, Academy, Occurrence, Result, was measured, defined, identify, occurred, proportion, recruited, median, subjects, suffered, reached, manifested, conditions, required to fill, 【제목키워드】 cross-sectional study, hospitalized COVID-19 patient, proportion,