Smell Recovery after COVID-19: 6-Month Follow-Up with Objective Evaluation

Background: We evaluated the long-term recovery rate of coronavirus disease 2019-related olfactory disorders.

Methods: Patients who had been diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and had olfactory disorders due to coronavirus disease 2019 were included in the study. The odor threshold was tested using a modification of the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory function test. Patients who had anosmia or hyposmia during the illness were summoned to the hospital to undergo the second odor threshold test, 6 months after the first diagnosis date.

Results: Thirty-five patients (21 females and 14 males) participated in this study. The mean age was 52.83 ± 16.40 years. The mean odor threshold results for the first day and sixth month were 2.46±1.62 and 4.74±0.78, respectively. The mean odor gain score was 2.29±1.5. Gender, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results, and the pres- ence of pneumonia were compared according to their average olfactory gain, and no statistically significant differ- ence was found. The olfactory gain score was higher in those without cough complaints (P = .039) and those with taste loss complaints (P = .044). Other complaints (odor loss, fever, headache, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, myalgia, palpitation, joint pain, and back pain) had no effect on the olfactory gain score. No significant correlation was found between olfactory gain and age (P = .755).

Conclusions: Few patients with odor dysfunction returned to the “normal” limits. The remainder of the group per- formed better in odor function; none of the patients had ongoing anosmia.

Cite this article as: Seden N, Yiğit E, Yiğider AP, Kaygısız İ, Yiğit Ö. Smell recovery after COVID-19: 6-month follow-up with objective evaluation. Eur J Rhinol Allerg 2022;5(1):7-11.