Objectives Olfactory dysfunction (OD) constitutes a major symptom in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Yet, most data on smell loss rely on the evaluation of orthonasal olfactory performance. Therefore, we aimed to assess retronasal olfactory function (ROF) over a period of several weeks in proven and suspected COVID-19 patients. Methods One hundred and one subjects with suspected or laboratory-proven COVID-19 participated in this study. In patients with OD no longer than 4 weeks after initial symptom onset, ROF was measured with the 7-item Candy Smell Test ten times over 7 weeks. Results Olfactory function was decreased in the investigated patients and remained decreased over the course of 7 weeks. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference of ROF between different measurement time points. However, self-assessment of smell and flavour improved significantly ( p = 0.013 and p = 0.043), but did not show complete recovery. Conclusion The current investigation revealed significant improvements in subjective smell and flavour perception over the course of 7 weeks in proven and suspected COVID-19 patients suffering from acute OD. However, objectively measured ROF based on a screening test revealed no improvements within the same time period.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Anosmia, Olfaction, Flavor, Retronasal, 【초록키워드】 Test, Symptom, improvement, Smell loss, Patient, Smell, COVID-19 patients, screening test, COVID-19 patient, olfactory, complete recovery, olfactory function, initial symptom, dysfunction, no significant difference, subject, objective, Course, Result, was measured, significantly, investigated, remained, participated, repeated-measures ANOVA, 【제목키워드】 olfactory, follow-up study, diagnosed,