Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain: a national multi-center survey of 35 566 population

• Published in: Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery Vol. 58; no. 6; p. 579
• Main Authors: Liu, M F, Ma, R X, Cao, X B, Zhang, H, Zhou, S H, Jiang, W H, Jiang, Y, Sun, J W, Yang, Q T, Li, X Z, Sun, Y N, Shi, L, Wang, M, Song, X C, Chen, F Q, Zhang, X S, Wei, H Q, Yu, S Q, Zhu, D D, Ba, L, Cao, Z W, Xiao, X P, Wei, X, Lin, Z H, Chen, F H, Shan, C G, Wang, G K, Ye, J, Qu, S H, Zhao, C Q, Wang, Z L, Li, H B, Liu, F, Cui, X B, Ye, S N, Liu, Z, Xu, Y, Cai, X, Hang, W, Zhang, R X, Zhao, Y L, Yu, G D, Shi, G G, Lu, M P, Shen, Y, Zhao, Y T, Pei, J H, Xie, S B, Yu, L G, Liu, Y H, Gu, S S, Yang, Y C, Cheng, L, Liu, J F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 07.06.2023
• Subjects: Adolescent; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 Vaccines; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Incidence; Olfaction Disorders - epidemiology; Olfaction Disorders - etiology; Prognosis; SARS-CoV-2; Smell; Taste Disorders - epidemiology; Taste Disorders - etiology
• ISSN: 1673-0860
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115330-20230316-00117

This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysf