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Comprehensive Otolaryngology

(258) Incidence and Resolution of COVID-19 Associated Anosmia Amongst 608 Patients

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • CC

    Claudia I. Cabrera, MD, MS

    Clinical Research Fellow
    University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
    Cleveland, Ohio, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Shannon S. Wu, BA

    Medical Student
    Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
    Cupertino, CA, USA

    • Co-Author(s)

  • BD

    Brian D. D'Anza, MD

    Associate Professor, Medical Director
    University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
    Cleveland, OH, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • TO

    Todd D. Otteson, MD MPH

    University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, USA

Disclosure(s):
Claudia I. Cabrera, MD, MS: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: Anosmia is a common presenting sign of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) infection and remains persistent in up to 7% of patients one year after diagnosis. However, demographic, socioeconomic, and medical risk factors for persistent anosmia are not well understood. This study aims to determine risk factors for development of anosmia and persistent anosmia amongst patients with COVID-19 infection.

Methods: This prospective, observational questionnaire study assessed patients with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis at a tertiary-care academic center. Patients’ self-reported survey responses for anosmia incidence and resolution were assessed for associations with demographic variables, socioeconomic factors, and clinical data.

Results: In total, 608 out of 26,094 patients (77.6% women, mean age 42.7±17.4 years, range 9 months-92 years) completed the survey. Anosmia was reported by 220 (36.2%) patients, and 139 (63.2%) patients achieved anosmia resolution. Patients with anosmia are more likely to have other sinonasal and flu-like symptoms, and have a hospitalization rate of 2.7%. There were no significant differences in age, gender, occupational or residential factors, or medical comorbidities incidence of anosmia development. Women had higher rates of persistent anosmia (88.9% vs 77.0%, p=.045). The anosmia recovery rates amongst active and resolved COVID-19 infections was 27.0% and 70.0%, respectively (p < .001).

Conclusions: There was a low hospitalization rate amongst patients reporting anosmia. One-third of patients with COVID-19 report anosmia, and two-thirds of patients achieve anosmia resolution. Patients with active COVID-19 infection and female gender are more likely to report persistent anosmia.