RESUMEN
Purpose of review: To provide a detailed overview of the assessment of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction and its association with psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. Recent findings: COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction can have a detrimental impact to the quality of life of patients. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, olfactory and taste disorders were a common but under-rated, under-researched and under-treated sensory loss. The pandemic has exacerbated the current unmet need for accessing good healthcare for patients living with olfactory disorders and other symptoms secondary to COVID-19. This review thus explores the associations that COVID-19 has with psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms, and provide a framework and rationale for the assessment of patients presenting with COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction. Summary: Acute COVID-19 infection and long COVID is not solely a disease of the respiratory and vascular systems. These two conditions have strong associations with psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. A systematic approach with history taking and examination particularly with nasal endoscopy can determine the impact that this has on the patient. Specific olfactory disorder questionnaires can demonstrate the impact on quality of life, while psychophysical testing can objectively assess and monitor olfaction over time. The role of cross-sectional imaging is not yet described for COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction. Management options are limited to conservative adjunctive measures, with some medical therapies described.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The Olfactory Disorders Questionnaire (ODQ) is widely used for patients suffering from olfactory disorders to depict the impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to scale and produce reference values for patients ODQ score according to Becks Depression Inventory (BDI) severity. METHODS: In this prospective study, a cross-sectional anonymous survey was created, which combined EQ-5D-5L, BDI and ODQ. Correlation was calculated between the three questionnaires. Receiver operator characteristic curves were created to produce cut-off values for ODQ scores based on three BDI categories (mild, borderline clinical and moderate-to-severe depression). RESULTS: Of the 578 who responded to the survey, 445 completed all sections and were included in the study. Majority were female (n = 327,73.5%), median age group 55-70 years (n = 193,43.4%). There was a strong correlation between BDI score and total ODQ score. There was a clear gradient in total ODQ score for each BDI classification; those with mild depression had the lowest mean ODQ score (101.8, range 39-168), those with moderate-to-severe depression had the highest (138.24, range 74-177). Due to overlapping of confidence intervals we were unable to grade the ODQ score. CONCLUSION: The study was unable to generate reference values for the ODQ due to lower numbers of patients with borderline clinical to extreme depression. However, we were able to appreciate the general trend, that the higher the ODQ score, the higher the risk of depression. These findings should guide clinical practice to ensure appropriate care and support is provided for those with olfactory dysfunction.
