Bax Francesco, Tascini Carlo, Valente Mariarosaria, Marini Alessandro, Surcinelli Andrea, Pellitteri Gaia, De Carlo Chiara, Gerussi Valentina, Gigli Gian Luigi
Clinical Neurology Unit (FB, MV, AM, AS, GP, GLG), and Clinical Infectious Diseases Unit (CT, CDC, VG), University of Udine, Italy.
Neurol Clin Pract. 2021 Apr;11(2):e92-e96. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001029.
To evaluate the prevalence of hyposmia and dysgeusia in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and their temporal relationship with the onset of other symptoms.
We performed a retrospective analysis of patients admitted during the month of March 2020 to the nonintensive COVID unit of Udine University Hospital on the basis of a positive swab test and/or of clinical-radiologic signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and results expressed as point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Of 141 patients admitted, 93 were interviewed. Hyposmia and dysgeusia were present in 58 cases (62.4%). In 22.4% of them, olfactory and gustatory impairment clearly preceded systemic symptoms. The presence of active smoking was very limited in both groups: 8.6% in hyposmic vs 2.9% in normosmic patients (odds ratio 3.2; 95% CI 0.3-28.6). Moreover, total leukocytes and neutrophils count were respectively 23% (effect estimate 1.23; 95% CI 1.06-1.42) and 29% (effect estimate 1.29; 95% CI 1.07-1.54) lower in the hyposmic cohort. No difference was found for other inflammatory biomarkers.
Hyposmia and dysgeusia are common in SARS-CoV-2 infection and can precede systemic symptoms. They should be actively searched and prompt close monitoring and isolation until infection is confirmed or disproven. The lower number of total leukocytes and neutrophils in hyposmic patients might indicate an early-phase virus-induced cytopenia.
评估严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）感染患者中嗅觉减退和味觉障碍的患病率及其与其他症状发作的时间关系。
我们对2020年3月因咽拭子检测呈阳性和/或有SARS-CoV-2感染的临床-放射学征象而入住乌迪内大学医院非重症新冠病房的患者进行了回顾性分析。采用标准化问卷对患者进行访谈。收集临床和实验室数据。采用描述性统计分析数据，结果以点估计值和95%置信区间（CI）表示。
141例入院患者中，93例接受了访谈。58例（62.4%）存在嗅觉减退和味觉障碍。其中22.4%的患者嗅觉和味觉障碍明显先于全身症状出现。两组中当前吸烟者的比例都非常低：嗅觉减退患者中为8.6%，嗅觉正常患者中为2.9%（优势比3.2；95%CI 0.3-28.6）。此外，嗅觉减退组的总白细胞和中性粒细胞计数分别低23%（效应估计值1.23；95%CI 1.06-1.42）和29%（效应估计值1.29；95%CI 1.07-1.54）。其他炎症生物标志物未发现差异。
嗅觉减退和味觉障碍在SARS-CoV-2感染中很常见，且可能先于全身症状出现。应积极排查这些症状，并进行密切监测和隔离，直至感染得到确诊或排除。嗅觉减退患者总白细胞和中性粒细胞数量较低可能表明存在病毒诱导的早期血细胞减少。
