Prevalence of smell and taste dysfunction in patients infected with COVID-19

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions (OGDs) in COVID-19 patients according to hospital admission type and possible risk factors for OGD. Materials and Methods: This study included 200 adult patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 2021 and September 2021. Patients were separated into two groups. The first group comprised 100 patients who applied to pandemic outpatient clinics with a milder course and were isolated at home. The second group comprised 100 patients with a more severe clinical course hospitalized in the pandemic ward. Patients completed a data form in which olfactory and gustatory functions and various clinical information were inquired about and rated their smell and taste dysfunction using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results: In the ambulatory group, 72% of patients were female and the mean age was 39.6 +/- 13.2 years. In the admitted group, 50% of patients were female, and the mean age was 52.4 +/- 11.0 years. The most common symptoms in all patients were loss of taste (41%) and smell (45.5%). Females and younger individuals were significantly more likely to have OGD. OGD was more common in the ambulatory group. Smell/taste VAS scores were significantly lower in the ambulatory group. Conclusion: OGD is associated with various mechanisms depending on the increased inflammatory response in the early stages of COVID-19. OGD appears to be the key symptom and diagnostic indicator and should be inquired about. It should be kept in mind that the frequency of OGD may differ according to age and gender.