Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38841730›Full record

ArticleBrain and behavior2024

Olfactory dysfunction as an early predictor for post-COVID condition at 1-year follow-up.

Christoffer Granvik, Sara Andersson, Linus Andersson, Camilla Brorsson, Mattias Forsell, Clas Ahlm, Johan Normark, Alicia Edin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain and behavior, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–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. Review
  2. Neuroimmune pathophysiology of long COVID.Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
  4. 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

8 authors.

Christoffer GranvikDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Sara AnderssonDepartment of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Linus AnderssonDepartment of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Camilla BrorssonDepartment of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Mattias ForsellDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Clas AhlmDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Johan NormarkDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Alicia EdinDepartment of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-0309-1852

Funding

County Council of Västerbotten RV-938855County Council of Västerbotten RV-939393Hjärt-Lungfonden 20200325Hjärt-Lungfonden 20210078Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse FS 2.1.6-849-20Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse VC-2020-0015Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse VLL 1925-2017Swedish Research Council 2016-06514Swedish Research Council 2020-06235
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOlfactory dysfunction together with neurological and cognitive symptoms are common after COVID-19. We aimed to study whether performance on olfactory and neuropsychological tests following infection predict post-COVID condition (PCC), persisting symptoms, and reduced health-related quality of life.

methodsBoth hospitalized (N = 10) and non-hospitalized individuals (N = 56) were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Participants were evaluated 1-3 months after infection with an olfactory threshold test and neuropsychological tests, which was used as predictors of PCC. A questionnaire outlining persisting symptoms and the validated instrument EuroQol five-dimension five-level for health-related quality of life assessment were used as outcome data 1 year after infection (N = 59). Principal component analysis was used to identify relevant predictors for PCC at 1 year.

resultsObjectively assessed olfactory dysfunction at 1-3 months post infection, but not subjective olfactory symptoms, predicted post-COVID condition with reduced health-related quality of life (PCC+) at 1 year. The PCC+ group scored more often below the cut off for mild cognitive impairment on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (61.5% vs. 21.7%) and higher on the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20, compared to the group without PCC+.

conclusionOur results indicate that objectively assessed, olfactory dysfunction is a predictor for PCC+. These findings underscore the importance of objective olfactory testing. We propose that olfactory screening in the early post-acute phase of COVID-19 infection might identify individuals that are at higher risk of developing long-term health sequalae.

Indexed as

COVID-19Neuropsychological TestsOlfaction DisordersQuality of LifeAdultAgedCognitive DysfunctionFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeProspective StudiesSARS-CoV-2COVID‐19health‐related quality of lifelong covidolfactory dysfunctionpost‐COVID condition (PCC)

Identifiers

PMID38841730
PMCPMC11154814

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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.