PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Bukhari, Afnan F.
AU  - Malas, Moayyad
AU  - Hanbazazah, Kamal
AU  - Zawawi, Faisal
TI  - The incidence and impact of anosmia on daily life after COVID-19 infection
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2022.43.12.20220559
DP  - 2022 Dec 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1354--1362
VI  - 43
IP  - 12
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/43/12/1354.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/43/12/1354.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2022 Dec 01; 43
AB  - Objectives: To investigate the impact of olfactory dysfunction’s (OD) on patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and evaluate the risk factors associated with it.Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed patients who tested positive for COVID-19 over a period of 4 months (May–July 2020) and experienced OD and mild illness. Selected patients were given 2 scales Olfactory Disorders Negative Statement (QOD-NS) and Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22).Results: A total of 256 patients were enrolled, out of which 196 had anosmia after COVID-19 infection. More than 75% of the participants were aged between 20-40 years and 64.3% were women. The mean score of the patients was 25.13 (SD 19.6) on the SNOT-22, while it was 4.9 (SD 4.85) on the QOD-NS. There was no association between anosmia and other comorbidities and factors (age, smoking history, allergic rhinitis history, asthma, and so on). Only 39% of patients who had anosmia after COVID-19 recovered in less than 4 months.Conclusion: Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom of COVID-19 infection and it can take more than 4 months to recover. Nevertheless, this cohort reports a moderate impact on their quality of life due to anosmia.