Incidence of smell and taste disorders and associated factors in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19

Abstract

<b>Objectives:</b> To determine the incidence of smell and taste disorders in our health department and to analyse the factors that could be associated with these symptoms in patients with COVID-19. <br><b>Methods:</b> We conducted an observational descriptive study of all patients with COVID-19 in our health area diagnosed between 2020/03/10 and 2020/04/14. Factors related to smell and taste disorders were analysed. <br><b>Results:</b> A total of 126 patients, 63 women and 63 men, aged 16-80 years, were included. As many as 69 patients (62.7%) presented hyposmia, and 58 (46%) of them had anosmia. A total of 75 patients (59.5%) presented hypogeusia, and 57 (45.2%) of them had ageusia. The risk factors that were most commonly associated with these disorders were the female sex (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 2.43 for smell disorders and 2.44 for taste disorders), allergic rhinitis (aOR 3.34 for smell disorders) and a younger age. A protective factor was arterial hypertension (aOR 0.51 for smell disorders and 0.35 for taste disorders). A history of tonsillectomy was the risk factor for taste disorder (aOR 5.23). <br><b>Conclusion:</b> Our results indicate that these sensory disorders occurred more frequently in female patients and in young patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who progressed with mild nasal congestion, posterior rhinorrhoea and without anterior rhinorrhoea. The recovery of taste occurred before the recovery of smell.

Keywords: ageusia; anosmia; coronavirus infections; hyposmia; olfaction disorders.