tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Med Virol
. 2020 Jul 25.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.26354. Online ahead of print.
A Structural Equation Model to Examine the Clinical Features of Mild-to-Moderate Covid-19: A Multicenter Italian Study
Maria Rosaria Barillari[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Luca Bastiani[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jerome R Lechien[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Giuditta Mannelli[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Gabriele Molteni[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Giovanna Cantarella[SUP] 2 7 [/SUP], Nicola Coppola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giuseppe Costa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eleonora M C Trecca[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Calogero Grillo[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Ignazio La Mantia[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba[SUP] 2 10 [/SUP], Claudio Vicini[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Sven Saussez[SUP] 2 12 [/SUP], Andrea Nacci[SUP] 2 13 [/SUP], Giovanni Cammaroto[SUP] 2 11 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the clinical features of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in a sample of Italian patients and to investigate the occurrence of smell and taste disorders.
Methods: Infected individuals with suspected (clinical diagnosis) or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were recruited. Patients completed a survey-based questionnaire with the aim of assessing their epidemiological and clinical characteristics, general otorhinolaryngological symptoms and smell and taste disorders.
Results: A total of 294 mild-to-moderate COVID19 patients completed the survey (147 females). The most prevalent general symptoms included fever, myalgia, cough and headache. A total of 70.4% and 59.2% of patients reported smell and taste disorders, respectively. A significant association between the two above-mentioned disorders was found (rs: 0.412; p<0.001). Smell disorders occurred prior to the other symptoms in 11.6% of patients and was not significantly associated with nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea. Interestingly, our statistical analysis did not show any significant difference, either for general symptoms or otorhinolaryngological features, between the clinical diagnosis group and the laboratory confirmed diagnosis (PCR) group. The structural equation model confirmed significant standardized paths (p <0.05) between general symptoms, comorbidities and general otorhinolaryngological complaints in the absence of a significant correlation between these elements and smell and taste alterations.
Conclusion: The prevalence of smell and taste disorders in mild-to-moderate Italian COVID-19 patients is significant both in suspected and laboratory confirmed cases and reveals a strong correlation between these clinical signs regardless of the presence of general or otorhinolaryngological symptoms, such as nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: COVID-19; ENT; SARS-CoV-2; anosmia; coronavirus; smell and taste; structural equation model.
. 2020 Jul 25.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.26354. Online ahead of print.
A Structural Equation Model to Examine the Clinical Features of Mild-to-Moderate Covid-19: A Multicenter Italian Study
Maria Rosaria Barillari[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Luca Bastiani[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jerome R Lechien[SUP] 2 4 [/SUP], Giuditta Mannelli[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Gabriele Molteni[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP], Giovanna Cantarella[SUP] 2 7 [/SUP], Nicola Coppola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giuseppe Costa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eleonora M C Trecca[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Calogero Grillo[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Ignazio La Mantia[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba[SUP] 2 10 [/SUP], Claudio Vicini[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Sven Saussez[SUP] 2 12 [/SUP], Andrea Nacci[SUP] 2 13 [/SUP], Giovanni Cammaroto[SUP] 2 11 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32710639
- DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26354
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the clinical features of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in a sample of Italian patients and to investigate the occurrence of smell and taste disorders.
Methods: Infected individuals with suspected (clinical diagnosis) or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were recruited. Patients completed a survey-based questionnaire with the aim of assessing their epidemiological and clinical characteristics, general otorhinolaryngological symptoms and smell and taste disorders.
Results: A total of 294 mild-to-moderate COVID19 patients completed the survey (147 females). The most prevalent general symptoms included fever, myalgia, cough and headache. A total of 70.4% and 59.2% of patients reported smell and taste disorders, respectively. A significant association between the two above-mentioned disorders was found (rs: 0.412; p<0.001). Smell disorders occurred prior to the other symptoms in 11.6% of patients and was not significantly associated with nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea. Interestingly, our statistical analysis did not show any significant difference, either for general symptoms or otorhinolaryngological features, between the clinical diagnosis group and the laboratory confirmed diagnosis (PCR) group. The structural equation model confirmed significant standardized paths (p <0.05) between general symptoms, comorbidities and general otorhinolaryngological complaints in the absence of a significant correlation between these elements and smell and taste alterations.
Conclusion: The prevalence of smell and taste disorders in mild-to-moderate Italian COVID-19 patients is significant both in suspected and laboratory confirmed cases and reveals a strong correlation between these clinical signs regardless of the presence of general or otorhinolaryngological symptoms, such as nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: COVID-19; ENT; SARS-CoV-2; anosmia; coronavirus; smell and taste; structural equation model.