Parosmia in patients with post-infectious olfactory dysfunction in the era of COVID-19-associated olfactory impairment.

Abstract

Alarge number of patients with olfactory impairment are affected by parosmia or phantosmia. This study aimed to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of parosmia. We performed aretrospective data analysis of patients consulting at our Smell and Taste Outpatient Clinic. Atotal of 297 patients were included (203 women, mean age44.4 ± 13.7years). Olfactory function was quantified using the "Sniffin' Sticks" composite TDI (odor threshold, determination, and identification) score. The presence of qualitative olfactory impairment was assessed trough medical history and aparosmia questionnaire. Most of the patients showed olfactory impairment after an infection with SARS-CoV‑2 (84%) and were diagnosed with parosmia (49%). Patients with parosmia (PAR) (n = 201) were significantly younger compared to the group without parosmia (noPAR; n = 92) (PAR 43.2 ± 13years vs. noPAR 47 ± 15.1 years, p = 0.03) and had aslightly shorter duration of disease, without reaching statistical significance (PAR 10.3 ± 4.9months, noPAR 13.6 ± 37.6 months, p = 0.23). They also had higher TDI scores (PAR 24.3 ± 7points, noPAR 21.4 ± 8.2points, p = 0.003). Patients affected by parosmia were younger and had abetter olfactory function compared to patients without parosmia.