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?:abstract
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OBJECTIVES While chemosensory dysfunctions, dysgeusia and anosmia/hyposmia, are recognized as distinctive symptoms of COVID-19, their temporality of presentation, and association with the patient age, gender, disease severity, and co-morbidities have been sparsely studied. Hence we evaluated the latter associations of chemosensory dysfunction, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS Information on chemosensory dysfunction and history of chronic systemic co-morbidities, if any, were obtained from 149 COVID-19 patients in an infectious Disease Hospital in UAE. using their medical records, as well as from a face-to-face questionnaire survey. Additionally, a modified SNOT-22 questionnaire, that measures disease specific quality of life in patients with upper respiratory tract affections was also administered. RESULTS Chemosensory dysfunction was reported by 94.6% of the cohort, and anosmia with dysgeusia were significantly more in males than females with severe COVID-19. Males with moderate COVID-19 and systemic comorbidities were more likely to present with chemosensory dysfunction in comparison to females. SNOT-22 questionnaire revealed that nasal blockage and runny nose were more prevalent in mild/moderate, than in the severe state of COVID-19. CONCLUSION Our data confirm the commonality of chemosensory dysfunction during COVID-19 progression, and the significantly more pronounced combined dysfunction in males with severe COVID-19, and co-morbidities.
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