Relationship Between Smell Disorders and Pulmonary Involvement in COVID-19

Abstract

Aim: Some symptoms of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are more common in patients without pulmonary involvement and in patients with a good prognosis. Although it is known that smelling disorders are more common in patients with a good prognosis, their relationship with pulmonary involvement is unknown. This study ianvestigated the relationship between smell disorders and pulmonary involvement in COVID-19. Method(s): This cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2022 and July 2022 and included 60 COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement and 60 COVID-19 patients without pulmonary involvement. Phone-call interviews were performed with all patients 1 month after the diagnosis of COVID-19 and their sense of smell was questioned with a questionnaire. The prevalence of smell disorders, type and severity of smell disorders were questioned, and participants were asked to grade their answers from 0 to 10. Result(s): In 58 (48.3%) of the patients, smell disorders were found to be present. Hyposmia was detected in 35 (60.34%), and anosmia was detected in 23 (39.66%) of these patients. Smell disorder was present in 20 (33.3%) patients with pulmonary involvement and in 38 (63.3%) patients without pulmonary involvement. The prevalence of smell disorders was significantly higher in patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.001). Hyposmia in 15 patients (25%) and anosmia in 5 patients (8.3%) were found in patients with pulmonary involvement. Hyposmia in 20 patients (33.3%) and anosmia in 5 patients (8.3%) were found in patients without pulmonary involvement. The prevalence of anosmia was significantly higher in patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.003). The smell disorders were significantly more severe in patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.042). Conclusion(s): Smell disorders are seen more frequently and more severely in patients without pulmonary involvement due to COVID-19 than in patients with pulmonary involvement. Copyright © 2022 by The Medical Bulletin of Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital The Medical Bulletin of Haseki published by Galenos Yayinevi.