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Clinical Trial
. 2021 Jan 22;156(2):61-64.
doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2020.08.004. Epub 2020 Sep 25.

Subjective evaluation of smell and taste dysfunction in patients with mild COVID-19 in Spain

[Article in English, Spanish]
Elisabeth Ninchritz-Becerra  1 , María Montserrat Soriano-Reixach  2 , Miguel Mayo-Yánez  3 , Christian Calvo-Henríquez  4 , Paula Martínez-Ruiz de Apodaca  5 , Carlos Saga-Gutiérrez  6 , Pablo Parente-Arias  7 , Itzhel María Villareal  8 , Jaime Viera-Artiles  9 , Daniel Poletti-Serafini  10 , Isam Alobid  11 , Tareck Ayad  12 , Sven Saussez  13 , Jerome R Lechien  14 , Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba  2
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Subjective evaluation of smell and taste dysfunction in patients with mild COVID-19 in Spain

[Article in English, Spanish]
Elisabeth Ninchritz-Becerra et al. Med Clin (Barc). .

Abstract

Background: Has been described the loss of smell and taste as onset symptoms in SARS-CoV-2. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence in Spain.

Methods: Prospective study of COVID-19 confirmed patients through RT-PCR in Spain. Patients completed olfactory and gustatory questionnaires.

Results: A total of 1043 patients with mild COVID-19 disease. The mean age was 39±12 years. 826 patients (79.2%) described smell disorder, 662 (63.4%) as a total loss and 164 (15.7%) partial. 718 patients (68.8%) noticed some grade of taste dysfunction. There was a significant association between both disorders (p<.001). The olfactory dysfunction was the first symptom in 17.1%. The sQOD-NS scores were significantly lower in patients with a total loss compare to normosmic or hyposmic individuals (p=.001). Female were significantly more affected by olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions (p<.001). The early olfactory recover in 462 clinically cured patients was 315 (68.2%), during the first 4 weeks.

Conclusion: The sudden onset smell and/or taste dysfunction should be considered highly suspicious for COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: Ageusia; Ageusia.; Anosmia; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figura 1
Criterios de inclusión y exclusión considerados, así como los datos clínicos y/o subjetivos se obtuvieron mediante la realización de un cuestionario online
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