PreprintCited by 180Olfactory and Sensory Function StudiesCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesDermatological and COVID-19 studies

Coincidence of COVID-19 epidemic and olfactory dysfunction outbreak

Open access
Bagheri, Seyed Hamidreza, Asghari, Alimohamad, Farhadi, Mohammad, Shamshiri, Ahmad Reza, Kabir, Ali, Kamrava, Seyed Kamran, Jalessi, Maryam, Mohebbi, Alireza +4 more·2020·medRxiv

Abstract

Background: Recent surge of olfactory dysfunction in patients who were referred to ENT clinics and concurrent COVID-19epidemic in Iran motivated us to evaluate anosmic/hyposmic patients to find any relation between these two events. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with an online checklist on voluntary cases in all provinces of Iran between the 12th and 17th March, 2020. Cases was defined as self-reported anosmia/hyposmia in responders fewer than 4 weeks later (from start the of COVID-19 epidemic in Iran). Variables consist of clinical presentations, related past medical history, family history of recent respiratory tract infection and hospitalization. Results: In this study 10069 participants aged 32.5±8.6 (7-78) years, 71.13% female and 81.68% non-smoker completed online checklist. They reported 10.55% a history of a trip out of home town and 1.1% hospitalization due to respiratory problems recently. From family members 12.17% had a history of severe respiratory disease in recent days and 48.23% had anosmia/hyposmia. Correlation between the number of olfactory disorder and reported COVID-19 patients in all 31 provinces till 16th March 2020 was highly significant (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.87, p-Value<0.001). The onset of anosmia was sudden in 76.24% and till the time of filling the questionnaire in 60.90% of patients decreased sense of smell was constant. Also 83.38 of this patients had decreased taste sensation in association with anosmia. Conclusions: It seems that we have a surge in outbreak of olfactory dysfunction happened in Iran during the COVID-19 epidemic. The exact mechanism of anosmia/hyposmia in COVID-19 patients’ needs further investigations.

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Crossref · 10.1101/2020.03.23.20041889

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Authors
Bagheri, S. H., Asghari, A., Farhadi, M., Shamshiri, A. R., Kabir, A., Kamrava, S. K., Jalessi, M., Mohebbi, A., Alizadeh, R., Honarmand, A. A., Ghalehbaghi, B., & Salimi, A.
Affiliations
  • Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
  • Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
  • Iran Medical Council (IR)
  • Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR)
Corresponding author
Ghalehbaghi, Babak
Venue
medRxiv
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2020-03-27
OpenAlex
W3013558447
Cited by
179
References
13
Citations by year
2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 114
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
medRxiv (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatological and COVID-19 studies
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, olfactory dysfunction, anosmia, hyposmia, ageusia, SARS-CoV-2, Iran, self-reported symptoms

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