Singapore COVID-19 Chemosensory Tracking (SCCT) Study

The study aims to longitudinally track the onset, severity and recovery of changes in chemosensory acuity (smell and/or taste loss) among those suspected of COVID-19 infection. Using standardised questionnaire and testing approaches, the investigators aim to objectively characterise and measure temporal changes in taste and smell to confirm the prevalence of these symptoms as an early marker of infection. Information on symptoms experience, changes in appetite and food-related quality of life will be also be assessed via questionnaire.

The results of the study will help individuals who experience a loss of smell and/or taste to self-isolate and/or self-refer to a medical professional, if an association between smell and/or taste and COVID-19 infection is found.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Covid19
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Home-use Test and Follow-up Questionnaire

Detailed Description

The study will be a retrospective-prospective, longitudinal case-control observational study using a convenience sample drawn from patients presenting for COVID-19 screening, and will recruit both males and females above the age of 21 years who consent to provide anonymised data online on recent changes to their taste and smell. There will be no intervention (medication or foods) as part of this study. Potential participants will be screened to ensure they meet the study inclusion and exclusion criteria and all participants will sign an informed consent.

During their first recruitment session at the hospital/clinic, participants will be required to complete a series of questionnaires to record recent changes in taste and smell sensitivity. The series of questionnaires will include: Singapore Smell and Taste Questionnaire (SSTQ), Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and optionally, the Global Consortium of Chemosensory Research Questionnaire (GCCRQ). The purpose of administering the different questionnaires is to cover wide range of complementary questions that capture information related to changes in taste and smell function associated with COVID-19 infection. Thereafter participants will be briefed on how to complete the home-use standardized smell and taste test (Home-use Test). The Home-use Test (HUT) will be completed daily over a 28 day period at participants place of residence, to enable self-monitoring of changes to smell and taste abilities. During the HUT, participants will rate their sense of smell using the two standardised odour pens they are provided on the first day of their session at the hospital/ clinic. For each pen, participants will be asked to identify the odour and rate the perceived intensity. This will then be followed a taste test where participants will take a small quantity of a powder representing each of the four prototypical basic tastes sweet (sugar), salt (table salt), bitter (coffee powder or tea) and sour (lime powder), to the tip end of their tongue with a small spoon to taste. Participant are asked to self-report that they confirm that can identify the taste quality and to rate the perceived intensity on line scales provided in an online questionnaire. All measures are self-administered and completed independently by the participant, with responses captured using unique identifier code for each participant through an online software (CompuSense, Guelph, Ontario). During the 28-day home use test period, once a week participants will be asked to complete a 'Follow-up Questionnaire' which will assess how the symptoms experienced have impacted their enjoyment of food, appetite and food-related quality of life.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 102

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Singapore
  • Singapore, Singapore, 117599
    • Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients present for COVID 19 screening

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 21 years and above
• Residing in Singapore for the next 28 days.
• Possess a mobile device with 4G network and knows how to use mobile apps (i.e. QR scanner)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to provide informed consent
• Allergic/ intolerant to test items (i.e. fragrances, sugar, salt, coffee or lime powder)
• Not agreeable with the study team accessing your medical records
• For women: Pregnant

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Other

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
COVID-19 Positive (Case); Participants who were present for COVID-19 screening and their test results will later indicate positive of infection. Participants will complete a one-time assessment of the various online questionnaires (Singapore Smell and Test Questionnaire, Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22, and Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research Questionnaire - Optional) in the hospital/clinic. Taste and smell acuity, as well as experienced symptoms, changes in appetite and food-related quality of life will be assessed using the Home-use Tests and Follow-up questionnaire over a period of 28 days.	Other: Home-use Test and Follow-up Questionnaire; Prospective tracking of changes in taste and smell acuity, and related changes in appetite, enjoyment of food and food-related quality of life will be assessed using the Home-use Tests and Follow-up questionnaire over a period of 28 days.
COVID-19 Negative/Other respiratory diseases (Control); Participants who were present for COVID-19 screening and their test results will later indicate negative of infection. Participants will complete a one-time assessment of the various online questionnaires (Singapore Smell and Test Questionnaire, Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22, and Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research Questionnaire - Optional) in the hospital/clinic. Taste and smell acuity, as well as experienced symptoms, changes in appetite and food-related quality of life will be assessed using the Home-use Tests and Follow-up questionnaire over a period of 28 days	Other: Home-use Test and Follow-up Questionnaire; Prospective tracking of changes in taste and smell acuity, and related changes in appetite, enjoyment of food and food-related quality of life will be assessed using the Home-use Tests and Follow-up questionnaire over a period of 28 days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Taste and smell acuity	Taste and smell functions of all participants will be assessed as part of the Home-use Test using taste test items (i.e. sweet: sugar, salty: salt, sour: lime powder and bitter: coffee powder) and odour pens respectively. Participants will identify the taste/smell and rate the perceived intensity on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 'not strong at all' (0) to 'extremely strong taste/smell' (100). A higher score will indicate greater intensity of taste/smell perceived.	28 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Experienced symptoms, changes in appetite and food-related quality of life	Experienced symptoms, changes in appetite and food-related quality of life will be assessed as part of the Follow-up questionnaire.	28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore
• Collaborators: National University Hospital, Singapore
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ciaran Forde, Phd, Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Sheen F, Tan V, Haldar S, Sengupta S, Allen D, Somani J, Chen HY, Tambyah P, Forde CG. Evaluating the Onset, Severity, and Recovery of Changes to Smell and Taste Associated With COVID-19 Infection in a Singaporean Population (the COVOSMIA-19 Trial): Protocol for a Prospective Case-Control Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Dec 31;9(12):e24797. doi: 10.2196/24797.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 17, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 15, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): June 15, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): July 30, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 14, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 13, 2021
• Last Verified: December 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Olfactory dysfunction; Gustatory dysfunction; Anosmia; Ageusia
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; COVID-19
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020/00810

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No