• Alberto Paderno, Alberto Schreiber, Alberto Grammatica, Elena Raffetti, Michele Tomasoni, Tommaso Gualtieri, Stefano Taboni, Silvia Zorzi, Davide Lombardi, Alberto Deganello, Redaelli De Zinis Luca Oscar LO Unit of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Azianda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST), Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of M, Roberto Maroldi, and Davide Mattavelli.
• Unit of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Azianda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST), Spedali Civili di Brescia, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiologic Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
• Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2020 Aug 1; 10 (8): 955-962.

BackgroundOlfactory (OD) and gustatory (GD) dysfunction have been proven to be a typical symptom of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, their prevalence in different patient populations still needs to be clarified.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed from March 27 to April 1, 2020, in Northern Italy. Physicians administered a survey-based questionnaire to SARS-CoV-2-positive patients with the aim of assessing symptoms, focusing on OD and GD. Two groups were studied: group A, patients hospitalized at Azianda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili University Hospital of Brescia; and group B, home-quarantined subjects.ResultsA total of 508 patients were enrolled: 295 in group A and 213 in group B. Mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 55 ± 15 years; 56% were men. Overall, OD and GD were present in 56% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51% to 60%) and 63% (95% CI, 59% to 67%) of cases, respectively. In group A, the prevalence of OD and GD was 44% (95% CI, 38% to 50%) and 52% (95% CI, 46% to 58%), respectively. In group B, the prevalence of OD and GD was 72% (95% CI, 65% to 79%) and 79% (95% CI, 73% to 84%), respectively. In the entire cohort, total loss of olfaction and taste was reported in 64% and 60% of cases, respectively. OD and GD occurred as the first symptom in 10% and 11% of cases, respectively; in the remaining cases, they occurred after a mean of 4 ± 3 days following the first symptom. At the time of the questionnaire, complete resolution of OD and GD was reported in 52% and 55% of cases, respectively (mean duration, 9 ± 5 days in both).ConclusionOD and GD are more prevalent in home-quarantined subjects, and they are independently associated with younger age and female gender.© 2020 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

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