Relationship between anosmia and hospitalisation in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: an otolaryngological perspective

Abstract

Objective: A study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between anosmia and hospital admission in coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

Methods: The clinical data of 1534 patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 virus were analysed. The study was conducted with medical records of 1197 patients (78 per cent). The basic characteristics of patients and symptoms related to otolaryngology practice were examined. The patients were divided into two groups according to their follow up: an out-patient group and an in-patient group.

Results: The majority of patients presented with anosmia (44.2 per cent), dysgeusia (43.9 per cent) and fever (38.7 per cent). Anosmia was observed in 462 patients (47 per cent) in the out-patient group, and in only 67 patients (31.2 per cent) in the in-patient group. Younger age (odds ratio = 1.05, 95 per cent confidence interval = 1.03-1.06) and the presence of anosmia (odds ratio = 2.04, 95 per cent confidence interval = 1.39-3) were significantly related to out-patient treatment.

Conclusion: Anosmia could be a symptom in the clinical presentation of the coronavirus disease 2019 infection.

Keywords: Anosmia; Coronavirus; Pandemics; Smell Disorders.