Features of anosmia in COVID-19

T Klopfenstein, N J Kadiane-Oussou, L Toko, P-Y Royer, Q Lepiller, V Gendrin, S Zayet, T Klopfenstein, N J Kadiane-Oussou, L Toko, P-Y Royer, Q Lepiller, V Gendrin, S Zayet

Abstract

Background: Medical publications about anosmia with COVID-19 are scarce. We aimed to describe the prevalence and features of anosmia in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: We retrospectively included COVID-19 patients with anosmia between March 1st and March 17th, 2020. We used SARS-CoV-2 real time PCR in respiratory samples to confirm the cases.

Results: Fifty-four of 114 patients (47%) with confirmed COVID-19 reported anosmia. Mean age of the 54 patients was 47 (±16) years; 67% were females and 37% were hospitalised. The median Charlson comorbidity index was 0.70 (±1.6 [0-7]). Forty-six patients (85%) had dysgeusia and 28% presented with pneumonia. Anosmia began 4.4 (±1.9 [1-8]) days after infection onset. The mean duration of anosmia was 8.9 (±6.3 [1-21]) days and 98% of patients recovered within 28 days.

Conclusions: Anosmia was present in half of our European COVID-19 patients and was often associated with dysgeusia.

Keywords: Anosmia; COVID-19; Dysgeusia.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Recovery time for patients with anosmia (n = 43 patients, 10 patients did not remember duration until recovery and one patient did not recover after 28 days). Durée de l'anosmie (n=43, 10 patients ne se rappelaient pas de la durée et 1 patient était toujours anosmique à J28).

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Source: PubMed

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