Self-reported smell and taste recovery in COVID-19 patients: a one-year prospective study

Abstract Purpose The aim of the present study was to estimate the one-year prevalence and recovery rate of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction in a series of subjects with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19. Methods Prospective study based on the SNOT-22 (item sense of smell or taste) and additional outcomes. Results 268/315 patients (85.1%) completing the survey at baseline also completed the follow-up interview. The 12-months prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction was 21.3% (95% CI: 16.5-26.7%). Of the 187 patients who complained of COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction at baseline, 130 (69.5%; 95% CI 62.4-76.0%) reported complete resolution of smell or taste impairment, 41 (21.9%) reported a decrease in the severity, and 16 (8.6%) reported the symptom was unchanged or worse one year after onset. The risk of persistence was higher for patients reporting a baseline SNOT-22 score > o = 4 (OR=3.32; 95% CI: 1.32-8.36) as well as for those requiring > o = 22 days for a negative swab (OR=2.18; 95% CI: 1.12-4.27). Conclusion A substantial proportion of patients with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19 characterized by new onset of chemosensory dysfunction still complained on altered sense of smell or taste one-year after the onset.