Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testing
Abstract Background Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), although few studies have employed objective measures to quantify these symptoms, especially dysgeusia. Reports of unrecognized anosmia in COVID‐19 patients suggests that self‐reported meas...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-09-01
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| Series: | World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.02.001 |
| _version_ | 1811205776462577664 |
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| author | Austin C. Cao Zachary M. Nimmo Natasha Mirza Noam A. Cohen Robert M. Brody Richard L. Doty |
| author_facet | Austin C. Cao Zachary M. Nimmo Natasha Mirza Noam A. Cohen Robert M. Brody Richard L. Doty |
| author_sort | Austin C. Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), although few studies have employed objective measures to quantify these symptoms, especially dysgeusia. Reports of unrecognized anosmia in COVID‐19 patients suggests that self‐reported measures are insufficient for capturing patients with chemosensory dysfunction. Objectives The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of recent COVID‐19 infection on chemosensory function and demonstrate the use of at‐home objective smell and taste testing in an at‐risk population of healthcare workers. Methods Two hundred and fifty healthcare workers were screened for possible loss of smell and taste using online surveys. Self‐administered smell and taste tests were mailed to respondents meeting criteria for elevated risk of infection, and one‐month follow‐up surveys were completed. Results Among subjects with prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, 73% reported symptoms of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction. Self‐reported smell and taste loss were both strong predictors of COVID‐19 positivity. Subjects with evidence of recent SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (<45 days) had significantly lower olfactory scores but equivalent gustatory scores compared to other subjects. There was a time‐dependent increase in smell scores but not in taste scores among subjects with prior infection and chemosensory symptoms. The overall infection rate was 4.4%, with 2.5% reported by PCR swab. Conclusion Healthcare workers with recent SARS‐CoV‐2 infection had reduced olfaction and normal gustation on self‐administered objective testing compared to those without infection. Rates of infection and chemosensory symptoms in our cohort of healthcare workers reflect those of the general public. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:37:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d915d32b31214854bdfe6520869455fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-8811 2589-1081 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:37:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-d915d32b31214854bdfe6520869455fe2022-12-22T03:49:24ZengWileyWorld Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery2095-88112589-10812022-09-018324925610.1016/j.wjorl.2021.02.001Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testingAustin C. Cao0Zachary M. Nimmo1Natasha Mirza2Noam A. Cohen3Robert M. Brody4Richard L. Doty5Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USAPerelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USADepartment of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USADepartment of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USADepartment of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USADepartment of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USAAbstract Background Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), although few studies have employed objective measures to quantify these symptoms, especially dysgeusia. Reports of unrecognized anosmia in COVID‐19 patients suggests that self‐reported measures are insufficient for capturing patients with chemosensory dysfunction. Objectives The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of recent COVID‐19 infection on chemosensory function and demonstrate the use of at‐home objective smell and taste testing in an at‐risk population of healthcare workers. Methods Two hundred and fifty healthcare workers were screened for possible loss of smell and taste using online surveys. Self‐administered smell and taste tests were mailed to respondents meeting criteria for elevated risk of infection, and one‐month follow‐up surveys were completed. Results Among subjects with prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, 73% reported symptoms of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction. Self‐reported smell and taste loss were both strong predictors of COVID‐19 positivity. Subjects with evidence of recent SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (<45 days) had significantly lower olfactory scores but equivalent gustatory scores compared to other subjects. There was a time‐dependent increase in smell scores but not in taste scores among subjects with prior infection and chemosensory symptoms. The overall infection rate was 4.4%, with 2.5% reported by PCR swab. Conclusion Healthcare workers with recent SARS‐CoV‐2 infection had reduced olfaction and normal gustation on self‐administered objective testing compared to those without infection. Rates of infection and chemosensory symptoms in our cohort of healthcare workers reflect those of the general public.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.02.001AnosmiaBrief Smell Identification TestChemosensory dysfunctionCOVID‐19DysgeusiaGustation |
| spellingShingle | Austin C. Cao Zachary M. Nimmo Natasha Mirza Noam A. Cohen Robert M. Brody Richard L. Doty Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testing World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Anosmia Brief Smell Identification Test Chemosensory dysfunction COVID‐19 Dysgeusia Gustation |
| title | Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testing |
| title_full | Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testing |
| title_fullStr | Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testing |
| title_short | Objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective study in healthcare workers using self‐administered testing |
| title_sort | objective screening for olfactory and gustatory dysfunction during the covid 19 pandemic a prospective study in healthcare workers using self administered testing |
| topic | Anosmia Brief Smell Identification Test Chemosensory dysfunction COVID‐19 Dysgeusia Gustation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.02.001 |
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