Alterations in smell or taste in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during periods of Omicron variant dominance

Jian Song; Qi Jing; Enzhao Zhu; Qidong Liu; Miaomiao Fei; Hui Zhang; Guanghui An; Silu Cao; Jinxuan Tang; Guanghui Xu; Yi Liu; Zisheng Ai; Yingna Tao; Cheng Li; Lize Xiong

International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Mar 2023)

Alterations in smell or taste in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during periods of Omicron variant dominance

Jian Song,
Qi Jing,
Enzhao Zhu,
Qidong Liu,
Miaomiao Fei,
Hui Zhang,
Guanghui An,
Silu Cao,
Jinxuan Tang,
Guanghui Xu,
Yi Liu,
Zisheng Ai,
Yingna Tao,
Cheng Li,
Lize Xiong

Affiliations

Jian Song: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Qi Jing: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Enzhao Zhu: Department of Medical Statistics, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Qidong Liu: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Miaomiao Fei: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Hui Zhang: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Guanghui An: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Silu Cao: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Jinxuan Tang: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Guanghui Xu: Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Yi Liu: Department of Nursing, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Zisheng Ai: Department of Medical Statistics, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yingna Tao: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Corresponding authors: Tel: +86-021-55603999 (Y. Tao); +86-021-55603999 (C. Li); +86-021-55603999 (L. Xiong)
Cheng Li: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Corresponding authors: Tel: +86-021-55603999 (Y. Tao); +86-021-55603999 (C. Li); +86-021-55603999 (L. Xiong)
Lize Xiong: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Brain Functional Modulation Shanghai, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Center for Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Corresponding authors: Tel: +86-021-55603999 (Y. Tao); +86-021-55603999 (C. Li); +86-021-55603999 (L. Xiong)

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 128
pp. 278 – 284

Abstract

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Objectives: To characterize the prevalence, severity, correlation with initial symptoms, and role of vaccination in patients with COVID-19 with smell or taste alterations (STAs). Methods: We conducted an observational study of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron admitted to three hospitals between May 17 and June 16, 2022. The olfactory and gustatory functions were evaluated using the taste and smell survey and the numerical visual analog scale at two time points. Results: The T1 and T2 time point assessments were completed by 688 and 385 participants, respectively. The prevalence of STAs at two time points was 41.3% vs 42.6%. Furthermore, no difference existed in the severity distribution of taste and smell survey, smell, or taste visual analog scale scores between the groups. Patients with initial symptoms of headache (P = 0.03) and muscle pain (P = 0.04) were more likely to develop STAs, whereas higher education; three-dose vaccination; no symptoms yet; or initial symptoms of cough, throat discomfort, and fever demonstrated protective effects, and the results were statistically significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of STAs did not decrease significantly during the Omicron dominance, but the severity was reduced, and vaccination demonstrated a protective effect. In addition, the findings suggest that the presence of STAs is likely to be an important indicator of viral invasion of the nervous system.

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1201-9712 (Print); 1878-3511 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-infectious-diseases/

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