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Eur J Neurol
. 2020 Jul 16.
doi: 10.1111/ene.14440. Online ahead of print.
Patterns of smell recovery in 751 patients affected by the COVID-19 outbreak
Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba 1 2 , Jerome R Lechien 1 3 4 2 , Thomas Radulesco 1 5 , Justin Michel 1 5 , Leigh J Sowerby 1 6 , Claire Hopkins 7 , Sven Saussez 8 4 9
Affiliations
- PMID: 32677329
- DOI: 10.1111/ene.14440
Abstract
Background: Post-viral olfactory dysfunction is well established and has been shown to be a key symptom of the Coronavirus diseases 2019 with more than 66% European and U.S patients reporting some degree of loss of smell. Persistent olfactory dysfunction appears to be commonplace and will drive the demand for General Practitioner, Otolaryngology or Neurology consultation in the next months - evidence regarding recovery will be essential in counselling our patients.
Methods: prospective survey-based data collection and telemedicine follow-up.
Results: 751 patients completed the study. The mean age of patients was 41 ? 13 (range: 18 - 60). There were 477 females and 274 males. There were 621 patients (83%) who subjectively report a total loss of smell and 130 (17%) a partial loss. After a mean follow-up of 47?7 days (range: 30-71) from the first consultation, 277 (37%) of patients still reported a persistent subjective loss of smell, 107 (14%) reported partial recovery and 367 (49%) reported complete recovery. The mean duration of the OD was 10?6 days (range: 3-31) in those patients who completely recovered and 12?8 days (range: 7-35) in those patients who partially recovered.
Conclusions: According to our results, at this relatively early point in the pandemic, subjective patterns of recovery of olfactory disfunction in COVID-19 patients are valuable for our patients, hypothesis generation and treatment development.
Keywords: COVID-19; anosmia; coronavirus; olfaction; recovery; smell.