Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38066629›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2023

One-year psychophysical evaluation of COVID-19-induced olfactory disorders: a prospective cohort study.

Emma J A Schepens, Wilbert M Boek, Sanne Boesveldt, Robert J Stokroos, Inge Stegeman, Digna M A Kamalski

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Assessment of olfactory recovery after COVID-19: cross-sectional study.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2024
    Article
  3. Article
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

6 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Emma J A SchepensDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands. e.j.a.schepens-2@umcutrecht.nl.
Wilbert M BoekDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Gelderse Vallei, Ede, The Netherlands.
Sanne BoesveldtDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Robert J StokroosDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands.
Inge StegemanDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands.
Digna M A KamalskiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands.
University Medical Center Utrecht · NLUtrecht University · NLWageningen University & Research · NLZiekenhuis Gelderse Vallei · NL

Funding

ZonMw 10430102110001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOlfactory disorders are common in COVID-19. While many patients recover within weeks, a notable number of patients suffer from prolonged olfactory disorders. Much research has focused on the acute phase of olfactory disorders in COVID-19; however, there is still inconsistency regarding the prognosis. We aim to assess both objective and subjective olfactory function in patients with persisting olfactory disorders following COVID-19, 1 year after diagnosis.

methodsWe objectively measured olfactory function in 77 patients who initially had COVID-19-induced smell disorders, 1 year after confirmed diagnosis. These patients previously underwent two objective measurements at approximately 3 and 6 months after COVID-19, in the context of the COCOS trial (COrticosteroids for COvid-19-induced loss of Smell). The main outcome measurement was TDI score (threshold-discrimination-identification) on Sniffin' Sticks Test (SST). Secondary outcomes included objective gustatory function on Taste Strip Test (TST), self-reported olfactory, gustatory and trigeminal function on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and outcomes on questionnaires about quality of life, and nasal symptoms.

resultsThe findings of this study show that 1 year following COVID-19, the median TDI score increased to 30.75 (IQR 27.38-33.5), regarded as normosmia. The median TDI score started at 21.25 (IQR 18.25-24.75) at baseline and increased to 27.5 (IQR 23.63-30.0) at 6 months following COVID-19. The increase of 9.5 points on the TDI score between baseline and 1 year after COVID-19 marks a clinically relevant improvement. Regarding the self-reported VAS score (1-10) on sense of smell, it increased from 1.2 (IQR 0.4-3.0) at baseline to 3.2 (IQR 1.4-6.0) at 6 months and further improved up to 6.1 (IQR 2.7-7.5) after 1 year. Objective gustatory function increased with 2 points on TST a year after diagnosis. Self-reported olfactory, gustatory, and trigeminal functions also improved over time, as did quality of life.

conclusionsObjective and self-reported olfactory function continued to improve 1 year after COVID-19. The median TDI score of 30.75 (IQR 27.38-33.5) is regarded as normosmia, which is a favorable outcome. However, the rate of improvement on TDI score reduces over time.

Indexed as

COVID-19Olfaction DisordersHumansProspective StudiesQuality of LifeSmellCOVID-19Olfactory disordersPrognosisSmell

Identifiers

PMID38066629
PMCPMC10709885
OpenAlexW4389473656

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.