Dysosmia and dysgeusia in patients with COVID-19 in northern Taiwan
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
120
Journal Issue
1
Pages
311-317
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Abstract
Background/Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of dysosmia and dysgeusia among patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan. Methods: Prospective data collection between January 22, 2020 to May 7, 2020 of nucleic acid confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized patients in northern Taiwan by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control were analyzed. Results: Of 217 patients enrolled, 78 (35.9%) reported dysosmia (n = 73, 33.6%) and/or dysgeusia (n = 62, 28.6%). The median duration of COVID-19 associated symptom-onset to development of dysosmia and/or dysgeusia was <1 days (interquartile range [IQR], <1–6 days) and 53 of 78 (67.9%) patients developed dysosmia and/or dysgeusia as one of the initial symptoms of COVID-19. Of 59 closely monitored patients, 41 (69.5%) patients recovered within 3 weeks after symptoms onset and the median time to recovery was 12 days (IQR, 7–20 days). Only 6 of the 59 (10.2%) patients reported persistent dysosmia and/or dysgeusia before discharge from hospitals. Multivariate analysis showed that younger individuals (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.93 per one-year increase; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.89–0.97; P = 0.001), women (AHR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.05–7.25; P = 0.04) and travel to North America (AHR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.05–5.26; P = 0.04) were the significant factors associated with dysosmia and/or dysgeusia. Conclusion: Dysosmia and/or dysgeusia are common symptoms and clues for the diagnosis of COVID-19, particularly in the early stage of the disease. Physicians should be alerted to these symptoms to make timely diagnosis and management for COVID-19 to limit spread. ? 2020 Formosan Medical Association
SDGs
Other Subjects
azithromycin; hydroxychloroquine; lopinavir plus ritonavir; remdesivir; adult; Article; confidence interval; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; dysgeusia; dysosmia; female; hazard ratio; human; information processing; major clinical study; male; Taiwan; travel; case control study; complication; dysgeusia; early diagnosis; hospitalization; middle aged; prognosis; prospective study; risk factor; smelling disorder; Taiwan; virology; Adult; Case-Control Studies; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Dysgeusia; Early Diagnosis; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Olfaction Disorders; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Taiwan
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article