Vaira Luigi Angelo, Gessa Claudia, Deiana Giovanna, Salzano Giovanni, Maglitto Fabio, Lechien Jerome R, Saussez Sven, Piombino Pasquale, Biglio Andrea, Biglioli Federico, Boscolo-Rizzo Paolo, Hopkins Claire, Parma Valentina, De Riu Giacomo
Maxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Biomedical Science Department, PhD School of Biomedical Science, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Life (Basel). 2022 Jan 19;12(2):141. doi: 10.3390/life12020141.
(1) Background: Persistent olfactory (POD) and gustatory (PGD) dysfunctions are one of the most frequent symptoms of long-Coronavirus Disease 2019 but their effect on the quality of life (QoL) of patients is still largely unexplored. (2) Methods: An online survey was administered to individuals who reported to have had SARS-CoV-2 infection at least 6 months prior with persisting COVID-19 symptoms (using the COVID symptom index), including ratings of POD and PGD, and their physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components of quality of life were assessed using the standardized short form 12 questionnaire (SF-12). (3) Results: Responses from 431 unique individuals were included in the analyses. The most frequent persistent symptoms were: fatigue (185 cases, 42.9%), olfactory dysfunction (127 cases, 29.5%), gustatory dysfunction (96 cases, 22.3%) and muscle pain (83 cases, 19.3%). Respondents who reported persisting muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, and dyspnea had significantly worse PCS. Those experiencing persistent fatigue and dyspnea also showed significantly lower MCS. Respondents reporting POD or PGD showed significantly worse QoL, but only pertaining to the MCS. Multiple regressions predicted MCS based on olfactory and marginally on gustatory ratings, but not PCS. Age significantly affected the prediction of PCS but not MCS, and gender and temporal distance from the COVID-19 diagnosis had no effect. (4) Conclusions: POD and PGD are frequent symptoms of the long-COVID-19 syndrome and significantly reduce QoL, specifically in the mental health component. This evidence should stimulate the establishment of appropriate infrastructure to support individuals with persistent CD, while research on effective therapies scales up.
(1) 背景：持续性嗅觉障碍（POD）和味觉障碍（PGD）是新型冠状病毒肺炎长期症状中最常见的症状之一，但它们对患者生活质量（QoL）的影响仍未得到充分探索。(2) 方法：对那些报告称至少在6个月前感染过严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型且仍有新冠肺炎症状（使用新冠症状指数）的个体进行了一项在线调查，包括对POD和PGD的评分，并使用标准化简短健康调查问卷（SF - 12）评估他们生活质量的身体（PCS）和精神（MCS）组成部分。(3) 结果：431名个体的回复被纳入分析。最常见的持续症状为：疲劳（185例，42.9%）、嗅觉功能障碍（127例，29.5%）、味觉功能障碍（96例，22.3%）和肌肉疼痛（83例，19.3%）。报告有持续肌肉疼痛、关节疼痛、疲劳、头痛、胃肠道紊乱和呼吸困难的受访者的PCS明显更差。经历持续疲劳和呼吸困难的受访者的MCS也明显更低。报告有POD或PGD的受访者的生活质量明显更差，但仅与MCS有关。多元回归基于嗅觉评分以及略微基于味觉评分预测MCS，但不能预测PCS。年龄显著影响PCS的预测，但不影响MCS的预测，性别以及自新冠肺炎诊断后的时间间隔没有影响。(4) 结论：POD和PGD是新冠长期综合征的常见症状，显著降低生活质量，特别是在心理健康方面。这一证据应促使建立适当的基础设施来支持患有持续性新冠的个体，同时扩大对有效治疗方法的研究。
