Impact of COVID-19-Mediated Olfactory Loss on Quality of Life

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> COVID-19 can be associated with a variety of longer-lasting impairments that can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). While this is well described in the literature for limitations in lung capacity or permanent headaches, there is little research on the impact of olfactory dysfunction in the context of COVID-19 on patients’ QoL. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In 65 patients with a history of COVID-19, the present olfactory ability was assessed using the Sniffin’ Sticks test. In addition, olfactory QoL was assessed by the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders. Self-assessment was performed with visual analogue scales. The data were compared with the results obtained in healthy individuals and in patients with hyposmia due to other viral infections. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The QoL of COVID-19 patients was significantly lower compared to the healthy control group. Even recovered subjects whose olfaction had already returned to the normal range still had a reduced QoL. The severity of the olfactory impairment correlated with the reduction in QoL. However, the olfactory QoL of COVID-19 patients was not worse than that of patients’ olfactory loss due to other viral infections. Patients with parosmia had reduced QoL and rated their situation worse than patients without parosmia. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> QoL appears to be impaired in patients with long-lasting COVID-19 olfactory disorders several months after overcoming acute symptoms, even if olfaction has normalized. However, the impairment is not more pronounced than in patients with other postviral olfactory disorders of the same duration.

Long‐term quality‐of‐life impairment in patients with more than 1‐year COVID‐19–related olfactory dysfunction

“…Pre–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) studies confirmed that QoL is reduced in patients with OD and recent studies show the impact of COVID‐19–related OD on patients’ QoL both in the short 2 and medium term. 3 To date, its long‐term consequences on QoL remain partially unexplored. We investigated by means of Sniffin’ Sticks (SS) test and validated QoL questionnaires the effects of persistent COVID‐19–related OD on QoL in patients with a history of OD longer than 1 year.…”

“…Compared with other causes of olfactory disorders, postinfectious OD is associated with a higher level of quality of life (QoL) impairment. Pre–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) studies confirmed that QoL is reduced in patients with OD and recent studies show the impact of COVID‐19–related OD on patients’ QoL both in the short 2 and medium term 3 . To date, its long‐term consequences on QoL remain partially unexplored.…”

Transient Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19 disease: a cross-sectional study

“…Comparable rates of impact of anosmia and dysgeusia was reported by other studies (4,10,27,28). The main concerns were that the senses of taste and smell would not return, alteration of eating habits, feeling angry and difficulty performing daily activities.…”

“…Few studies explored the impact of anosmia and dysgeusia on patients with COVID-19 and reported negative impact of these symptoms, interference with daily activities and deterioration in well-being (4,9,10). A study conducted in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia reported that 23% of participants felt isolated, 12.6% reported having problems with taking part in daily activities, anger in 28.2%, difficulty in relaxing in 21% of participants, and worrying about their ability to cope with their changes in sense of smell in 22% (4).…”

Impaired quality of life due to COVID-19 induced olfactory dysfunction 15 months after confirmed infection

“…Qualitative olfactory impairment often onset months after infection, may last for a long time (Gary et al, 2022), and have been reported to have a higher negative impact on the quality of the individual's life than does quantitative dysfunction alone (Leopold, 2002;Frasnelli & Hummel, 2005). Indeed, COVID-19 patients with parosmia (distorted sense of smell) show reduced quality of life and rate their situation as worse than do those without parosmia (Otte et al, 2022).…”