Demographic characteristics of patients with anosmia consulting to the COVID-19 outpatient clinic

Anosmia and COVID-19

Authors

  • Sibel Doğan Kaya University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3253-7334
  • Suzan Şahin University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7124-3363
  • Bülent Kaya University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3027-5868
  • Gülfem Akengin Öcal University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4923-4292
  • Sabahat Çağan Aktaş University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9091-4070
  • Müge Tokatlı Çoban University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9086-1282
  • Pınar Öngörü University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1638-3160
  • Öznur Ak Kutahya University of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kutahya, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3790-3070
  • Ayşe Batırel University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6005-636X

Keywords:

COVID 19, anosmia, outpatient

Abstract

Background/Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases first emerged in Turkey in March 2020, spreading rapidly and peaking in April and May. This study aimed to assess individuals with loss of taste and smell who were admitted to our hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods: Between March and June 2020, we retrospectively assessed 6966 patients who visited Kartal Dr. Lütfi Krdar City Hospital’s Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology COVID-19 outpatient clinics; 137 patients with loss of taste and smell were included in the study. We enrolled 18-year-old patients who were admitted to the infection emergency outpatient clinics.

Results: Out of the 6966 patients hospitalized with a pre-diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, 137 (0.19%) complained of poor taste and smell. Among these, 69 (50.4%) were female, and 68 (49.6%) were male. Of the 137 patients, 100 (73%) reported a loss of smell, while 94 (68.6%) reported a loss of taste. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) was positive in approximately one-third (n=2672, 38.4%) of the 6966 patients and roughly half (n=62, 48.4%) of the patients with loss of taste and smell. The most common symptoms observed in patients with anosmia were fever (n=123, 91%), cough (n=102, 75%), shortness of breath (n=411, 30%), sore throat (n=12, 9%), malaise (n=12, 9%), myalgia (n=11, 8%), nausea/vomiting (n=6, 5%), diarrhea (n=4, 3%), loss of smell (n=2, 2%), and loss of taste (n=2, 2%). Comorbidities included hypertension (n=4, 3%), diabetes mellitus (n=4, 2%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n=2, 2%), and coronary artery disease (n=1, 1%).

Conclusion: Patients admitted to our hospital during the initial wave of the pandemic experienced typical and prevalent symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and loss of taste and smell. Further large cohort studies are required to address the “tasteless” COVID-19 more fully.

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Published

2023-09-22

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Research Article

How to Cite

1.
Kaya SD, Şahin S, Kaya B, Akengin Öcal G, Çağan Aktaş S, Tokatlı Çoban M, Öngörü P, Ak Öznur, Batırel A. Demographic characteristics of patients with anosmia consulting to the COVID-19 outpatient clinic: Anosmia and COVID-19. J Surg Med [Internet]. 2023 Sep. 22 [cited 2024 Dec. 6];7(9):607-9. Available from: https://jsurgmed.com/article/view/7809