Imbalanced salivary electrolytes, COVID-19 severity, and dysgeusia

Abstract

Early studies of patients who progressed to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported various serum electrolyte disturbances. Hyposalivation and dysgeusia are two of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection oral symptoms. This study investigated how SARS-CoV-2 infection affects saliva volume, pH, zinc, and inorganic components (sodium, potassium, calcium). The association between these salivary properties and dysgeusia was also investigated in patients with mild and severe COVID-19. Saliva volume, pH, zinc, sodium, potassium, and calcium were measured in 142 healthy persons (control) and 158 COVID-19 patients (72 mild and 86 severe). This study showed that saliva volume, pH, zinc, sodium, potassium, and calcium levels reduced dramatically during COVID-19. Likewise, these saliva characteristics were significantly lower in severe COVID-19 individuals than in mild COVID-19 cases. In addition, there was no correlation between dysgeusia and salivary composition, volume, or pH. All salivary indicators were reduced in the COVID-19 group reporting the loss of taste and smell and the group who perceived neither. These data suggested that COVID-19 is associated with many salivary abnormalities, including hyposalivation, decreased pH, and electrolyte imbalances. These were more pronounced in severe COVID-19 cases. According to the current study, saliva characteristics could be utilized for early diagnosis, quarantine, and therapy in COVID-19 patients. As a result, the virus transmission can be stopped, and the optimum therapeutic results might be obtained. COVID-19-associated dysgeusia was unrelated to the reduction of these changes.