Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved]
Background: This systematic review had three aims: i) to determine the frequency of anosmia (or other smell disorders) and dysgeusia (or other taste disorders) in COVID-19 patients; ii) to determine whether anosmia or dysgeusia are independently associated with COVID-19 diagnosis; and iii) to determ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wellcome
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Wellcome Open Research |
| Online Access: | https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-94/v1 |
| _version_ | 1818553556798537728 |
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| author | Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco Carlos Altez-Fernandez |
| author_facet | Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco Carlos Altez-Fernandez |
| author_sort | Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: This systematic review had three aims: i) to determine the frequency of anosmia (or other smell disorders) and dysgeusia (or other taste disorders) in COVID-19 patients; ii) to determine whether anosmia or dysgeusia are independently associated with COVID-19 diagnosis; and iii) to determine whether anosmia or dysgeusia are prognostic factors for impaired outcomes among COVID-19 patients. Methods: On April 20th, 2020, we search MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science and MedXriv. We used terms related to COVID-19, smell and taste disorders. We selected case series, cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies. We included studies with COVID-19 patients describing their symptoms; studies that compared smell and taste disorders between COVID-19 patients and otherwise healthy subjects; and studies comparing smell and taste disorders between COVID-19 severe and mild/moderate cases. Because of methodological heterogeneity and the limited number of results, a qualitative synthesis is presented. Results: From 31 reports, we selected six (n=2,757). Six studies reported the proportion of smell and taste disorders among COVID-19 patients. Two reports studied whether smell and taste disorders were independently associated with COVID-19 diagnosis. No reports studied the association with impaired outcomes among COVID-19 patients. The frequency of anosmia ranged between 22%-68%. The definition of taste disorders varied greatly, with dysgeusia present in 33% and ageusia in 20%. People who reported loss of smell and taste had six-fold higher odds of being COVID-19 positive; similarly, anosmia and ageusia were associated with 10-fold higher odds of COVID-19 diagnosis. Conclusions: The frequency of smell and taste disorders is as high as other symptoms, thus, at least anosmia for which the definition was more consistent, could be included in lists of COVID-19 symptoms. Although there is promising evidence, it is premature to conclude that smell and taste disorders are strongly associated with COVID-19 diagnosis. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020181308 |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:27:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68dc0c9d477446b89480233b9ab68ad9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-502X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:27:23Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Wellcome |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wellcome Open Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-68dc0c9d477446b89480233b9ab68ad92022-12-22T00:28:59ZengWellcomeWellcome Open Research2398-502X2020-05-01510.12688/wellcomeopenres.15917.117459Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved]Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco0Carlos Altez-Fernandez1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UKFacultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, PeruBackground: This systematic review had three aims: i) to determine the frequency of anosmia (or other smell disorders) and dysgeusia (or other taste disorders) in COVID-19 patients; ii) to determine whether anosmia or dysgeusia are independently associated with COVID-19 diagnosis; and iii) to determine whether anosmia or dysgeusia are prognostic factors for impaired outcomes among COVID-19 patients. Methods: On April 20th, 2020, we search MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science and MedXriv. We used terms related to COVID-19, smell and taste disorders. We selected case series, cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies. We included studies with COVID-19 patients describing their symptoms; studies that compared smell and taste disorders between COVID-19 patients and otherwise healthy subjects; and studies comparing smell and taste disorders between COVID-19 severe and mild/moderate cases. Because of methodological heterogeneity and the limited number of results, a qualitative synthesis is presented. Results: From 31 reports, we selected six (n=2,757). Six studies reported the proportion of smell and taste disorders among COVID-19 patients. Two reports studied whether smell and taste disorders were independently associated with COVID-19 diagnosis. No reports studied the association with impaired outcomes among COVID-19 patients. The frequency of anosmia ranged between 22%-68%. The definition of taste disorders varied greatly, with dysgeusia present in 33% and ageusia in 20%. People who reported loss of smell and taste had six-fold higher odds of being COVID-19 positive; similarly, anosmia and ageusia were associated with 10-fold higher odds of COVID-19 diagnosis. Conclusions: The frequency of smell and taste disorders is as high as other symptoms, thus, at least anosmia for which the definition was more consistent, could be included in lists of COVID-19 symptoms. Although there is promising evidence, it is premature to conclude that smell and taste disorders are strongly associated with COVID-19 diagnosis. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020181308https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-94/v1 |
| spellingShingle | Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco Carlos Altez-Fernandez Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved] Wellcome Open Research |
| title | Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved] |
| title_full | Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved] |
| title_fullStr | Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved] |
| title_short | Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19: A systematic review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 not approved] |
| title_sort | anosmia and dysgeusia in covid 19 a systematic review version 1 peer review 2 approved 1 not approved |
| url | https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-94/v1 |
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