tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Brain Behav
. 2024 Jun;14(6):e3574.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.3574. Olfactory dysfunction as an early predictor for post-COVID condition at 1-year follow-up
Christoffer Granvik[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sara Andersson[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Linus Andersson[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Camilla Brorsson[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mattias Forsell[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Clas Ahlm[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Johan Normark[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alicia Edin[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Olfactory 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.
Methods: Both 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.
Results: Objectively 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+.
Conclusion: Our 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.
Keywords: COVID‐19; health‐related quality of life; long covid; olfactory dysfunction; post‐COVID condition (PCC).
. 2024 Jun;14(6):e3574.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.3574. Olfactory dysfunction as an early predictor for post-COVID condition at 1-year follow-up
Christoffer Granvik[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sara Andersson[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Linus Andersson[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Camilla Brorsson[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Mattias Forsell[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Clas Ahlm[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Johan Normark[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alicia Edin[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38841730
- DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3574
Background: Olfactory 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.
Methods: Both 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.
Results: Objectively 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+.
Conclusion: Our 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.
Keywords: COVID‐19; health‐related quality of life; long covid; olfactory dysfunction; post‐COVID condition (PCC).