COVID-19 patients are more prone to hyposmia, says a study published in ENT. In this study, researchers reported on the elevated incidence of olfactory dysfunction in a cohort of coronavirus-infected patients.

Loss of sense of smell and/or taste was stated by 41% (26/63) of SARS-CoV-2- infected people. Only 31% of hyposmia-infected patients witnessed symptoms of rhinitis at the same time. Smell tests were carried out in 14 of these people and taste tests were carried out in 10 patients.

In 10/14 patients, an olfactory disorder was reported, prior to and after nasal decongestion. In 2/14 patients, hyposmia was the chief or the only symptom of coronavirus infection. Within 8 to 23 days, all the tested individuals reported an improvement in their sense of smell and/or taste.

It was observed that coronavirus can lead to hyposmia in a substantial number of individuals. The occurrence was about 30% in the study cohort. In most of the cases, the olfactory disorder was not linked with rhinitis symptoms, thus suggesting a possible neurogenic origin. Following the onset of coronavirus symptoms, the olfactory disturbance was found to largely resolve within one-three weeks. No indications of a raised incidence of dysgeusia were noted.

These early findings may aid in elucidating SARS-CoV-2-related hyposmia as well as for counseling the patients, in view of the temporary nature of hyposmia noted in this study. The authors also noted that hyposmia without nasal obstruction can be the predominant or even the only symptom of coronavirus infection.