Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37194063›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of laryngology and otology2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 related parosmia: an exploratory survey of demographics and treatment strategies.

L J Sowerby, Z Almubarak, A Biadsee, T Rocha, C Hopkins

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of laryngology and otology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Parosmia: Pathophysiology and Management.Current allergy and asthma reports · 2025
    Review
  3. Long-term smell loss experiences after COVID-19: A qualitative study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024
    Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

L J SowerbyDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5825-2759
Z AlmubarakDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
A BiadseeDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3768-6216
T RochaDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6190-1425
C HopkinsDepartment of ENT, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3993-1569

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the clinical features, therapeutic efficacy and symptom time course of post-coronavirus disease 2019 parosmia.

methodsA 22-item online questionnaire was distributed to AbScent research group and Facebook coronavirus disease 2019 anosmia group adult members to assess clinical features, interventions and their subjective efficacy for parosmia.

resultsA total of 209 participants (86 per cent females) reported: smell loss on average 3 days after coronavirus symptoms, recovery 4 weeks later, and first parosmia symptoms 12 weeks post infection. Respondents reported 10 per cent body weight loss, and listed onion and garlic as significant parosmia triggers. Regarding quality of life, depression was the most cited item (54 per cent). Smell training was trialled by 74 per cent of participants, followed by nasal corticosteroid spray (49 per cent). Stellate ganglion block, trialled by 16 per cent of respondents, had the highest reported improvement (45 per cent), with 21 per cent reporting a sustained benefit - the highest rate amongst registered treatment options.

conclusionPost-coronavirus parosmia has a significant impact and remains challenging to treat. Stellate ganglion block appears to be successful relative to other reported treatments. Further research into the pathophysiology, efficacy and mechanism of stellate ganglion block effect is warranted.

Indexed as

COVID-19Olfaction DisordersAdultAnosmiaFemaleHumansNasal SpraysQuality of LifeSmellNasal SpraysOlfaction disordersolfactory trainingpost-acute COVID-19 syndromeSARS-CoV-2self-help groupssmell

Identifiers

PMID37194063
PMCPMC10627779

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.