Chemosensory Changes Research Articles

Taste and smell are associated with dietary intake, eating behavior, nutritional status, and health-related quality of life in children with cancer

Background & aimsSmell and taste changes are frequently reported bothersome treatment symptoms during treatment for childhood cancer and assumed to influence outcomes such as food intake. Since nutritional status of children with cancer is already vulnerable, any detrimental effects on food intake should be prevented. Therefore, understanding the exact relationship between chemosensory changes and dietary intake, eating behavior, and other domains such as health-related quality of life (HRQoL), is important for improving outcomes. MethodsIn this longitudinal study, we followed 87 childhood cancer patients treated for hematological, solid, or brain malignancies. Smell (odor threshold and odor identification) and taste function (total taste score) were objectively investigated using commercial Sniffin’ Sticks and Taste Strips respectively, and by self-report. Dietary intake was measured using a 3-day food dairy. For nutritional status, BMI expressed as standard deviation scores was derived from medical records. Eating behavior and HRQoL were assessed by the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) and PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales, respectively. Measurements were taken approximately 6 weeks (T0), 3 months (T1), 6 months after starting chemotherapy (T2), and 3 months after termination of chemotherapy or maintenance phase for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (T3). Dietary intake, eating behavior, nutritional status, and HRQoL were modelled over time using mixed model analysis. Associations between smell and taste (objective and self-report), as well as patient characteries were studied. ResultsEnergy intake significantly increased during the study period, with a higher age, BMI, and total taste scores associated to this increase. Boys had higher energy intake compared to girls. Eating behavior scores significantly declined, indicating less eating problems. Age, pre-diagnosis eating behavior, self-reported smell changes, and tube feeding were associated to eating behavior. BMI significantly increased, with a higher BMI at diagnosis to be related to a higher BMI during the study period. A lower BMI was found in children receiving tube feeding and self-reported taste changes. HRQoL improved during the study period, with lower HRQoL in children receiving tube feeding and self-reported taste changes. ConclusionBoth objective and subjective measures of taste and smell influence dietary intake, eating behavior, nutritional status, and HRQoL. Individual dietary advice and coping strategies are warranted to prevent detrimental effects of chemosensory changes on food intake and clinical outcomes in children with cancer.

Optimization of an assay to measure chemosensory changes that accompany oral cancer

Optimization of an assay to measure chemosensory changes that accompany oral cancer

COVID‐19‐related chemosensory changes: Findings from a prospective national database

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to review findings from a large prospective national database of chemosensory disturbances associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection.Data SourcesThe Virginia Commonwealth University Smell and Taste Center national database of COVID‐19 chemosensory disturbances.MethodsA series of online surveys, first opened on April 10, 2020, was made accessible nationwide to any adult with sudden chemosensory dysfunction since January 2020. Participants received subsequent follow‐up surveys 14 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after enrollment. An additional survey was sent to all participants on May 28, 2022 to assess long‐term outcomes. Information pertaining to demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, treatments, and life impact was collected.ResultsOf 363 participants who reported complete smell recovery, 51.2% recovered within 1 month, 70% within 3 months, and 79% within 6 months, while 8.8% took over 1 year to completely recover. Among all participants, 7.5% had no smell recovery. Positive predictors of recovery included age <40, male gender, and the presence of nasal congestion. Negative predictors included difficulty breathing and prior head injury. Many participants reported a decrease in quality of life and the presence of potential safety hazards associated with decreased smell loss.ConclusionsMost subjects with COVID‐19‐related chemosensory dysfunction recover, with the majority noting complete recovery within weeks of infection. Those aged over 40 years and female gender were associated with lower rates of recovery. A considerable number of participants reported significant impact on quality of life and safety.

Chemosensory changes during chemotherapy.

Chemosensory changes that occur during chemotherapy can significantly impact food enjoyment, quality of life and recovery. To investigate chemosensory changes reported by oncology patients during chemotherapy. A mixed-method cross-sectional study design was used to explore 100 cancer patients' experiences of chemosensory changes during chemotherapy. All patients completed a questionnaire assessing their taste and smell preferences. A purposive sample of 30 patients underwent a semi-structured interview to elicit their thoughts on their experienced chemosensory changes. Descriptive statistics and themes were examined. The mean age of the sample was 50.56 years, and the majority of participants were female. The most stated taste alteration was bitter, while altered food preferences were also commonly experienced. Furthermore, most patients experienced unpleasant odours around food, while some experienced these odours even when food was not present. Overall, five themes were identified: changes in taste, changes in smell, changes in social life, altered comfort and food preferences. Chemosensory changes related to cancer and its treatment impact a person's nutrient intake, food-related behaviours, quality of life and treatment response. Patients who experience chemotherapy-associated chemosensory changes require specialised nutritional therapy to increase their eating-related pleasure. As part of the nutritional assessment, chemosensory alterations should be evaluated regularly.

Increased sugar valuation contributes to the evolutionary shift in egg-laying behavior of the fruit pest Drosophila suzukii.

Behavior evolution can promote the emergence of agricultural pests by changing their ecological niche. For example, the insect pest Drosophila suzukii has shifted its oviposition (egg-laying) niche from fermented fruits to ripe, non-fermented fruits, causing significant damage to a wide range of fruit crops worldwide. We investigate the chemosensory changes underlying this evolutionary shift and ask whether fruit sugars, which are depleted during fermentation, are important gustatory cues that direct D. suzukii oviposition to sweet, ripe fruits. We show that D. suzukii has expanded its range of oviposition responses to lower sugar concentrations than the model D. melanogaster, which prefers to lay eggs on fermented fruit. The increased response of D. suzukii to sugar correlates with an increase in the value of sugar relative to a fermented strawberry substrate in oviposition decisions. In addition, we show by genetic manipulation of sugar-gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) that sugar perception is required for D. suzukii to prefer a ripe substrate over a fermented substrate, but not for D. melanogaster to prefer the fermented substrate. Thus, sugar is a major determinant of D. suzukii's choice of complex substrates. Calcium imaging experiments in the brain's primary gustatory center (suboesophageal zone) show that D. suzukii GRNs are not more sensitive to sugar than their D. melanogaster counterparts, suggesting that increased sugar valuation is encoded in downstream circuits of the central nervous system (CNS). Taken together, our data suggest that evolutionary changes in central brain sugar valuation computations are involved in driving D. suzukii's oviposition preference for sweet, ripe fruit.

Olfaction and neurocognition after COVID-19: a scoping review.

COVID-19 induces both acute and chronic neurological changes. Existing evidence suggests that chemosensory changes, particularly olfactory loss, may reflect central neurological dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases and mark progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's. This scoping review summarizes the available literature to evaluate the relationship between neurocognition and olfaction in young to middle-aged adults with minimal comorbidities following COVID-19 infection. A literature search of PubMed, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted. Studies underwent title/abstract and full text screening by two reviewers, with a third reviewer resolving any conflicts. Remaining studies underwent data extraction. Seventeen studies were eligible for data extraction after the review process, where 12 studies found significantly poorer cognition in those suffering from olfactory dysfunction, four studies showed no association between cognition and olfaction, and one study reported lower anosmia prevalence among patients with cognitive impairment. The majority of studies in this review find that olfactory dysfunction is associated with poorer cognition. More rigorous studies are needed to further elucidate the relationship between olfaction and cognition after COVID-19.

The effects of comorbidities on the change of taste and smell in COVID-19 patients.

Sudden chemosensory changes were considered an early predictor of COVID-19. Here, the effects of comorbidities on changes in taste and smell in COVID-19 patients were investigated based on a worldwide study. Data analyzed here were collected from the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research (GCCR) core questionnaire, including questions regarding preexisting disease conditions. Overall, the final sample of 12,438 participants who were diagnosed with COVID-19 included patients with preexisting conditions. Mixed linear regression models were used to test our hypothesis, and the p-value of interaction was examined. A total of 61,067 participants completed the GCCR questionnaire, including 16,016 participants had preexisting diseases. The multivariate regression analysis showed that individuals with high blood pressure, lung disease, or sinus problems, or neurological diseases exhibited worse self-reported smell loss (p < .05), but no apparent significant differences in the smell or taste recovery. COVID-19 patients with seasonal allergy/hay fever lost their olfactory ability more than patients who did not have it (with 11.90 [9.67, 14.13] vs. without 6.97 [6.04, 7.91], p < .0001). The taste ability, smell loss and taste loss after COVID-19 recovery also decreased in the COVID-19 patients with seasonal allergy/hay fever (p < .001). Preexisting condition of diabetes did not worsen to chemosensory disorder but also had no obvious impact on the chemosensory recovery after acute infection. Preexisting diseases also affected the type of smell change in the COVID-19 patients with seasonal allergy/hay fever or sinus problems (p < .05). COVID-19 patients with high blood pressure, lung disease, or sinus problems, or neurological diseases exhibited worse self-reported smell loss, but no differences in the smell or taste recovery. COVID-19 patients with seasonal allergy/hay fever had greater loss of smell and taste, poorer smell and taste recovery. 4.

Chemosensory deficits are best predictor of serologic response among individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Smell and taste alteration are closely linked to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and may be associated with a more indolent disease course. Serologic response rates among individuals with mild disease remains limited. We sought to identify whether chemosensory changes associated with COVID-19 were predictive of a serologic response. Cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 306 adults (≥18 years old) volunteering for convalescent plasma donation following perceived COVID-19 illness from April-June 2020. Documentation of COVID-19 PCR status, clinical symptoms at time of illness, and treatment course occurred at the time of serologic analysis, where we assessed chemosensory function using patient-perceived deficits. We implemented previously validated ELISA screening to determine serologic status regarding anti-Spike immunoglobulins. Statistical analysis using stepwise logistic models were employed to identify predictive factors of serologic response. Of 306 patients undergoing serologic and chemosensory evaluation, 196 (64.1%) and 195 (63.7%) reported subjective olfactory and taste dysfunction, respectively, during the first two weeks of COVID-19 infection. In unadjusted models, the odds of developing suprathreshold IgG antibody titers were 1.98 times higher among those who reported altered smell (95% CI 1.14-3.42, p = 0.014) and 2.02 times higher among those with altered taste (95% CI 1.17-3.48, p = 0.011) compared to those with normal smell and taste. Multivariable logistic models adjusting for sex, age, race/ethnicity, symptom duration, smoking status and comorbidities index demonstrated that altered smell and taste remained significant predictors of positive anti-spike IgG response (smell OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.05-3.44, p = 0.033; taste OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.12-3.61, p = 0.019). Subjective chemosensory dysfunction, as self-reported smell or taste deficiency, is highly predictive of serologic response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This information may be useful for patient counseling. Additional longitudinal research should be performed to better understand the onset and duration of the serologic response in these patients.

Olfactory testing as COVID-19 screening in school children; A prospective cross-sectional study.

Little is known about olfactory changes in pediatric COVID-19. It is possible that children under-report chemosensory changes on questionnaires, similar to reports in adults. Here, we aim to describe COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction in outpatient children. We hypothesized that children with COVID-19 will demonstrate abnormal olfaction on smell-identification testing at a higher rate than children with negative COVID-19 testing. A prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken from June 2020-June 2021 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. A consecutive sample of 205 outpatients aged 5-21 years undergoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) PCR testing were approached for this study. Patients with prior olfactory dysfunction were excluded. Participants were given a standard COVID-19 symptom questionnaire, a Smell Identification Test (SIT) and home-odorant-based testing within 2 weeks of COVID-19 testing. Prior to study enrollment, power calculation estimated 42 patients to determine difference in rates of SIT results between groups. Data were summarized with descriptive statistics. Fifty-one patients underwent smell identification testing (23 positive (45%) and 28 negative (55%) for COVID-19; mean age 12.7 years; 60% female). 92% of all patients denied subjective change in their sense of smell or taste but only 58.8% were normosmic on testing. There was no difference in screening questionnaires or SIT scores between COVID-19 positive and negative groups. Unlike adults, there was no statistical difference in olfactory function between outpatient COVID-19 positive and negative children. Our findings suggest a discrepancy between objective and patient-reported olfactory function in pediatric patients, and poor performance of current screening protocols at detecting pediatric COVID-19.

Chemosensory Alterations and Impact on Quality of Life in Persistent Alcohol Drinkers.

Heavy alcohol consumption-associated chemosensory dysfunction is understudied, and early detection can help predict disease-associated comorbidities, especially those related to four quality of life (QOL) domains (physical, psychological, social and environment). We examined self-reports of chemosensory ability of individuals with different alcohol drinking behaviors and their association with changes in QOL domains. Participants (n = 466) were recruited between June 2020 and September 2021 into the NIAAA COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol study. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to categorize participants without any known COVID-19 infection into three groups (non-drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers) based on their Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test consumption scores at four different time points (at enrollment, week 4, week 8 and week 12). Linear mixed models were used to examine chemosensory differences between these groups. The associations between chemosensory abilities and QOL were determined in each group. We observed significant impairment in self-reported smell ability of heavy drinking individuals compared to non-drinkers. In contrast, taste ability showed marginal impairment between these groups. There were no significant differences in smell and taste abilities between the moderate and non-drinking groups. Heavy drinkers' impairment in smell and taste abilities was significantly associated with deterioration in their physical, psychological, social and environmental QOL. Persistent heavy drinking was associated with lower chemosensory ability. Heavy drinkers' reduced smell and taste function and association with poorer QOL indicate that early assessment of chemosensory changes may be crucial in identifying poorer well-being outcomes in heavy drinkers at risk for alcohol use disorder.

The impact of changes in taste, smell, and eating behavior in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A qualitative study.

Background and aimsTaste changes are the third most common bothersome symptom during treatment in children with cancer. However, it is still unclear what the essence of these taste changes are, to what degree concomitant changes in sense of smell qualify this bothersome treatment symptom and how much of an impact these changes have on the life of children with cancer. The aim of this study was to explore characteristics of both taste and smell changes and to gain insight into the impact of these changes in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were performed until data saturation was achieved in each age group (6–12, 13–17 years). This resulted in an in-depth description of taste and smell changes, including its impact on the life of 27 children with various cancer types receiving chemotherapy. Thematic analysis of interview data was performed.ResultsInterview data could be grouped into three main themes, namely changes in (1) taste, (2) smell, and (3) eating behavior. As expected, most children reported experiencing taste and smell changes just after start of treatment, but changes varied greatly between children; that is, some reported changes in intensity (increased or decreased), whereas others reported different perceptions or preferences (from sweet to savory). Taste and smell changes (regardless of direction) negatively impacted quality of life, with these changes commonly described as “disappointing” or “frustrating.” Interestingly, particular chemotherapeutic agents were frequently mentioned regarding taste and smell changes, prompting sensory-specific coping strategies. Children's eating behavior changed in terms of alterations in food liking and appetite, sometimes due to chemosensory changes, but children also mentioned specific medication or hospital food being responsible for their altered eating behavior.ConclusionsBoth taste and smell changes are common in children with cancer. The essence of these changes varies widely, but taste and smell changes are generally considered bothersome treatment symptoms. Ways to cope with taste or smell changes specifically were described by the children warranting further research and offering the opportunity for enhancing patient-centered care.

An 18-Year-Old Female Experiences Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis during Mild COVID-19 Infection

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown with certainty that SARS-CoV-2 can cause a variety of clinical findings, with some of the most notable being lasting chemosensory changes. Severe infections with SARS-CoV-2 can also lead to a variety of complications. For example, vocal cord paralysis can be caused by trauma sustained during intubation, which is a necessary procedure for many severe cases. Rarely, SARS-CoV-2 related vocal cord paralysis has occurred outside the context of intubation. These cases contribute to an emerging assortment of evidence supporting the neuropathic capacity of SARS-CoV-2. This report documents a case of COVID-19 related vocal cord paralysis in an 18-year-old female. The patient had a significant history of muscle tension dysphonia, chronic laryngitis, and vocal cord nodules. The patient developed vocal cord paralysis concurrently with the onset of mild viral symptoms and was never intubated or hospitalized. Based on the onset of symptoms and other causes being excluded with CT, a diagnosis of COVID-19-related vocal cord paralysis was performed.

Olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19: pathology and long-term implications for brain health.

Decreased smell function is related to brain health, future mortality, and quality of life. Most people inflicted with the SARS-CoV-2 virus evidence some measurable smell dysfunction during its acute phase, although many are unaware of the loss. Long-term deficits occur in up to 30% of COVID-19 cases, although total anosmia is relatively rare. This review explores what is presently known about the nature and pathophysiology of olfactory dysfunction due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including reversible inflammation within the olfactory cleft, downregulation of olfactory receptor proteins, and long-lasting peripheral and central damage to olfactory structures. It also addresses the question as to whether long-term smell loss might increase the likelihood of future development of cognitive and neurological deficits.

Decreasing Incidence of Chemosensory Changes by COVID-19 Variant.

Anecdotal clinical observation suggests that rates of chemosensory dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection may be decreasing. To investigate, the National COVID Cohort Collaborative database was queried for all patients with and without smell and taste loss within 2 weeks of COVID-19 diagnosis. Six-week periods of peak variant prevalence were selected by using CoVariants.org for analysis. Of 3,678,214 patients with COVID-19 in the database, 616,318 met inclusion criteria during the time intervals of interest, with 3431 having an associated smell or taste disturbance diagnosis. With the initial/untyped variant set as the baseline, the odds ratios for alpha, delta, and omicron (December 27, 2021-February 7, 2022) were 0.50 (95% CI, 0.45-0.55; P < .0001), 0.44 (95% CI, 0.41-0.48; P < .0001), and 0.17 (95% CI, 0.15-0.18; P < .0001), respectively. These data strongly support the clinical observation that patients infected with more recent variants are at a significantly lower risk of developing associated chemosensory loss.

COVID-19 related chemosensory changes in individuals with self-reported obesity.

Self-reported smell loss is a prominent symptom of COVID-19 infection and a potentially useful clinical tool for remote pre-screening of this disease. However, pre-existing chemosensory dysfunction with obesity may diminish the usefulness of self-reported smell loss in this vulnerable group. Here we aim to compare COVID-19 related chemosensory alterations in participants with and without obesity and determine if self-reported smell loss is predictive of lab-based COVID-19 diagnosis in both groups in the context of restrictive clinical data collection. In this secondary analysis of a cross-sectional global dataset, we compared self-reported chemosensory ability in participants with a respiratory illness reporting a positive (C19+; n = 5156) or a negative (C19-; n = 659) COVID-19 laboratory test outcome, who also self-reported to have obesity (C19+; n = 433, C19-; n = 86) or not. Participants with obesity and without obesity reported a similar decline in smell, taste, and chemesthesis during illness. In C19+ participants with obesity, we observed a greater relative prevalence of non-chemosensory symptoms, including respiratory and GI symptoms. Critically, we found that the model previously proposed also predicts C19+ diagnosis in participants with obesity. We conclude that COVID-19 respondents with obesity experience a similar self-reported chemosensory loss as those without obesity. In both groups self-reported chemosensory symptoms are similarly predictive of COVID-19 infection, thus highlighting the potential of collecting self-report of symptoms and comorbidities remotely when clinical observations are restrictive.

Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Case Related to COVID-19.

Although the most common neuro-otolaryngological findings associated with COVID-19 infection are chemosensory changes, it should be known that these patients may present with different clinical findings. We present a 57-year-old woman who developed progressive hoarseness while suffering from COVID-19 infection without a history of chronic disease or any other etiological cause. Laryngeal fiberscopy revealed left vocal cord fixed at the cadaveric position and there was a 5–6-mm intraglottic gap during phonation. No other etiological causes were found in the examinations performed with detailed ear-nose-throat examination, neurological evaluations, and imaging methods. Injection laryngoplasty was applied to the patient, and voice therapy was initiated, resulting in significant improvement in voice quality. The mechanism of the idiopathic vocal cord paralysis remains unclear; it is suspected to be related to COVID-19 neuropathy, because the patient had no pre-existing vascular risk factors or evidence of other neurologic diseases on neuroimaging. Laryngeal nerve palsies may represent part of the neurologic spectrum of COVID-19. When voice changes occur in patients during COVID 19 infection, the possibility of vocal cord paralysis due to peripheral nerve damage caused by the SARS-CoV-2 should be considered.

Human Type II Taste Cells Express Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 and Are Infected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Chemosensory changes are well-reported symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The virus targets cells for entry by binding of its spike protein to cell-surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). It is not known whether ACE2 is expressed on taste receptor cells (TRCs), or whether TRCs are infected directly. in situ hybridization probe and an antibody specific to ACE2 indicated presence of ACE2 on a subpopulation of TRCs (namely, type II cells in taste buds in taste papillae). Fungiform papillae of a SARS-CoV-2+ patient exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including taste changes, were biopsied. Presence of replicating SARS-CoV-2 in type II cells was verified by in situ hybridization. Therefore, taste type II cells provide a potential portal for viral entry that predicts vulnerabilities to SARS-CoV-2 in the oral cavity. The continuity and cell turnover of a patient's fungiform papillae taste stem cell layer were disrupted during infection and had not completely recovered 6 weeks after symptom onset. Another patient experiencing post–COVID-19 taste disturbances also had disrupted stem cells. These results demonstrate the possibility that novel and sudden taste changes, frequently reported in COVID-19, may be the result of direct infection of taste papillae by SARS-CoV-2. This may result in impaired taste receptor stem cell activity and suggest that further work is needed to understand the acute and postacute dynamics of viral kinetics in the human taste bud.

Aging and the (Chemical) Senses: Implications for Food Behaviour Amongst Elderly Consumers.

The growing aging population are increasingly suffering from the negative health consequences of the age-related decline in their senses, especially their chemical senses. Unfortunately, however, unlike for the higher senses of vision and hearing, there is currently nothing that can be done to bring back the chemical senses once they are lost (or have started their inevitable decline). The evidence suggests that such chemosensory changes can result in a range of maladaptive food behaviours, including the addition of more salt and sugar to food and drink in order to experience the same taste intensity while, at the same time, reducing their overall consumption because food has lost its savour. Here, though, it is also important to stress the importance of the more social aspects of eating and drinking, given the evidence suggesting that a growing number of older individuals are consuming more of their meals alone than ever before. Various solutions have been put forward in order to try to enhance the food experience amongst the elderly, including everything from optimising the product-intrinsic food inputs provided to the remaining functional senses through to a variety of digital interventions. Ultimately, however, the aim has to be to encourage healthier patterns of food consumption amongst this rapidly-growing section of the population by optimising the sensory, nutritional, social, and emotional aspects of eating and drinking. An experimental dinner with the residents of one such home where nostalgic-flavoured healthy ice-creams were served is described.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Self-Reported Olfactory and Gustatory Changes in COVID-19 and its Impact on Quality of Life in Taif, Saudi Arabia

Background: Chemosensory changes in COVID-19 infected individuals have gained substantial attention in recent times. The persistence of olfactory and gustatory problems may negatively impact the quality of life and daily life activities. The study aimed to assess the olfactory and gustatory changes among COVID-19 patients in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done using a pretested questionnaire among COVID-19 infected individuals. A mixture of snowball and convenience was used to collect the responses. The questionnaire recorded participants’ baseline characteristics, COVID-19 associated clinical findings, characteristics of clinical olfactory dysfunctions (OD) and gustatory dysfunction (GD), and a short version Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (sQOD-NS) that measured the effect of gustatory and olfactory changes on the patient’s quality of life. Results: The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and Gustatory dysfunction was found to be 55.7% and 46.3%, respectively, and about 44.7% of the participants had experienced both OD and GD. The percentage of OD and GD were found to be comparatively higher among those who had experienced general symptoms of COVID-19 than those who were asymptomatic (p&lt;0.001). The patients who had experienced anosmia had demonstrated a poor quality of life compared to those who had Hyposmia (p=0.044). Conclusions: The high prevalence of OD and GD among COVID-19 infected individuals has an impact on the quality of life. The long-standing or permanent OD and GD symptoms are of big concern, and this should alert physicians about the substantial risk that this individual faces.

Subjective smell and taste changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: Short term recovery.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many individuals have reported acute loss of smell and taste. In order to better characterize all patients with these symptoms, a longitudinal national survey was created. Since April 10, 2020, 549 completed the initial survey, with 295 completing 14-day, and 202 completing 1-month follow up surveys. At 1-month follow-up, 71.8% reported a return to “very good” or “good” smell, and 84.2% reported a return to “very good” or “good” taste. Chemosensory changes are a cardinal sign of COVID-19. Fortunately, our data, representing a large longitudinal study of patients experiencing smell and taste losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicates that the majority appear to recover within a month.