Unmasking Risk Factors for Post-COVID-19 Olfactory Dysfunction: A Case-Controlled Study of Lost and Lingering Smells

Sunday, September 29, 2024

10:12 AM – 10:18 AM EDT

Location: MBCC, 230

Disclosure(s):

Jacob E. Hoerter, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Brooke Stephanian, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Jonathan Liang, MD, MPH:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Loss of and altered sense of smell are prevalent symptoms after COVID-19 infection. While the pandemic spurred research into olfactory dysfunction (OD), the risks factors for developing COVID19-related OD are unclear. We aimed to identify risk factors that contribute to COVID-19-OD.

Methods: A case-control (1:3) study was performed. Cases were adult patients with OD after COVID-19 diagnosis between July 2020 and June 2021; controls were adults with a COVID-19 diagnosis without OD. OD was subclassified as acute smell loss ( < 3 months), chronic smell loss (> 3 months), or altered sense of smell (e.g. parosmia, phantosmia). Bivariate tests and multivariable logistic regression were performed to analyze risk factors (sociodemographic and clinical characteristics) for general OD and its subtypes.

Results: Of the 4,220 patients that met criteria, 1,055 (25%) had OD. Of those with OD, 650 (61.6%) had acute smell reduction, 350 (33.2%) had chronic smell reduction, and 245 (23.2%) had altered sense of smell. Younger (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.8-0.9), male (OR 0.63, 95% 0.54-0.74), Asian (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.6-0.96), and fully-vaccinated (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27-0.72) patients were less likely to experience OD. Having seasonal allergies increased the risk of OD (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11-1.86). Compared with acute loss, chronic smell loss was more likely in older, male, non-Caucasians, and diabetics (p < 0.05). Women and those from lesser deprived socioeconomic neighborhoods had higher risk of having altered sense of smell (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Understanding the clinical course and prognosis of post-COVID-19 OD is becoming increasingly important and may provide broader insight into post-viral OD. Being younger, male, Asian, and atopic conferred the highest risk of OD after COVID-19.

Presenting Author(s)

JH

Jacob E. Hoerter, MD

Resident Physician
Kaiser Permanente Med Group - Northern California
Oakland, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

JW

Julia Wei, MPH

Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA

Disclosure information not submitted.
BS

Brooke Stephanian, BS

medical student
Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
RP

Richard Pellizzari, BS

Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

Jonathan Liang, MD, MPH

Associate Professor
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
Oakland, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.