Loss of smell and taste in COVID-19 patients linked to low QOL, depression: Study

USA: COVID-19 associated loss of smell or taste may have a substantial impact on quality of life and may lead to depression, and loss of appetite, a recent study has revealed. The findings of the study are published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology.

Substantial attention has been given to the association between COVID-19 and chemosensory loss, however to date, not much is known about the real-life consequences of impairment in this unique patient population. Considering this, Daniel H.Coelho, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA, and colleagues aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and personal safety deficits experienced by patients with COVID-19 infection.

For this purpose, the researchers launched a longitudinal web-based nationwide survey of adults with COVID-19 and/or a sudden change in smell and taste on April 10, 2020. Previously published questions on chemosensory-related QOL and safety events were asked at the 6-month follow-up survey.

As of February 10, 2021, 480 eligible respondents took the 6-month questionnaire, of whom 322 were COVID-19 positive.