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

Sibel Doğan Kaya; Suzan Şahin; Bülent Kaya; Gülfem Akengin Öcal; Sabahat Çağan Aktaş; Müge Tokatlı Çoban; Pınar  Öngörü; Öznur  Ak; Ayşe  Batırel

doi:10.28982/josam.7809

Authors

Sibel Doğan Kaya University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Infection Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey 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 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 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 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 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 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 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1638-3160
Öznur Ak Kutahya University of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kutahya, Turkey 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 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6005-636X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.7809

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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