Olfactory dysfunction in the scenario of COVID-19 pandemic in patients screened by the telemonitoring

• Autor(a) principal: Valletta,Raíssa Camelo
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Camargo,Leandro Azevedo de, Rodrigues,Stela Oliveira, Silva,Sarah Vidal da, Gonçalves,Mateus Capuzzo, Queiroz,Nathálya Rodrigues, Galvão Filho,Arlindo Rodrigues, Avelino,Melissa Ameloti Gomes
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Einstein (São Paulo)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082021000100237
• topic: Olfaction disorders; COVID-19; Coronavirus infections; Taste disorders; Population health; Epidemiology; Telemonitoring

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with olfactory dysfunction in the scenario of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The study selected patients with loss of smell, previously screened by telemonitoring system of the Municipal Health Department of Goiânia (GO), Brazil, who agreed to answer a questionnaire about COVID-19 symptoms and findings of exams. The interviews were conducted by six otolaryngologists, who applied the specific questionnaire, over the phone. Results A total of 13,910 patients underwent telemonitoring, and 627 (4.51%) had olfactory loss complaints. Out of them, 330 were included in the survey. We observed a higher prevalence of altered smell in women (67%), and in patients aged under 50 years (86%). In most cases the manifestations had a sudden onset (70%), and in the first 5 days of illness (80%). The most prevalent associated symptom was a change in taste (89%), and only 2.7% of interviewed patients required hospitalization. Conclusion Anosmia in COVID-19 is more prevalent in females and individuals aged under 50 years. It is a relevant initial symptom predictive of the disease, together with dysgeusia.