Factors influencing the recovery of anosmia in young medical students with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: One of the most prevalent signs of COVID-19, accounting for 30–86% of cases, is olfactory impairment. Various researches have been carried out on anosmia due to COVID-19 based on self-reported questionnaires. To the best of our knowledge, very few studies have been done by conducting the olfactory function test to better understand and clarify the clinical outcomes. Aim and Objective: The present study aims to assess the recovery of anosmia and the factors affecting it among COVID-19-recovered individuals. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022. RT-PCR-proven COVID-19 adult patients (17–25 years of age) with a positive history of anosmia were included in this study. Anosmia was assessed by performing an objective olfactory function test. The recovery of anosmia after 6 weeks was evaluated, and the relationship between the patient’s recovery and their clinical, demographic data, and medication use was assessed. A univariate cox proportional regression model was carried out for individual variables, variables with P < 0.10 in univariate cox proportional were considered for multivariate analysis, and P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 50 students were included in the study, out of which females were 40% and males were 60%. Their mean age was 20.18 ± 1.224 years. 30 (60%) out of 50 individuals reported complete recovery of anosmia, 17 (34%) reported partial recovery and 3 (6%) reported no recovery. The result of univariate and multivariate cox proportional hazard regression showed that those who consumed antihistamines had early recovery (2.475 [1.153–5.316], P = 0.020) and those who had associated cough showed a delay in the recovery of anosmia (0.408 [0.205–0.814] P = 0.011). Conclusion: The study concludes that the use of antihistamines is associated with early recovery from COVID-19-related anosmia. Cough associated with anosmia in COVID-19 decelerates the recovery from anosmia. Overall, there is an excellent prognosis in nearly complete recovery from anosmia in the population studied.