Volume 8, Issue 3 (Summer 2022)                   Caspian J Neurol Sci 2022, 8(3): 171-177 | Back to browse issues page


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1- Oto-Rhinolaryngology Research Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Amiralmomenin Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
2- Department of Health, Nutrition and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
3- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Research Center, Guilan University of Medical, Sciences, Rasht, Iran
4- International Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Arya Hospital, Rasht, Iran
5- Oto-Rhinolaryngologist, Pars Hospital, Rasht, Iran
Abstract:   (826 Views)
Background: One of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 infection is Olfactory Dysfunction (OD).
Objectives: This study aims to investigate OD and phantosmia in COVID-19 cases from northern Iran.
Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were 400 patients with COVID-19 infection in Rasht, Iran from March 2019 to September 2020. All the patients were evaluated in terms of OD and then followed up for 3 months face-to-face, by telephone call, or online.
Results: Among 400 patients, 37.75% had OD (19% hyposmia, 10.75% primary phantosmia, and 8% anosmia) during the initiation of the disease, but 121 (30.25%) including nearly 65% of anosmic and/or hyposmic cases reported phantosmia at different time intervals of followup visits. Moreover, 65.38% of patients reported acute onset of OD. The prevalence of OD was significantly higher in patients aged <40 years (P=0.001) and in females (P=0.002). OD improved in about 90% of patients within 3 months. Peripheral oxygen saturation was better in anosmic cases and C-reactive protein level was higher in normosmic cases at their first visit. No significant difference was found in terms of other laboratory results.
Conclusion: OD is a common complication of COVID-19 infection, but seems not to be permanent. It is more common in young patients, females, and those with mild COVID-19 infection.
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2022/07/12 | Accepted: 2022/07/19 | Published: 2022/07/1

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