Evaluation of the xerostomia, taste and smell impairments after Covid-19 / Evaluación de la xerostomía, alteraciones del gusto y del olfato tras el Covid-19

ABSTRACT

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) on the oralcavity by evaluating the oral findings in the patients who recovered after treatment.Material and Methods: This study involved confirmed Covid-19 patients whose treatment completed at least twoweeks ago. A questionnaire consist of eight parts was applied to explore the oral findings after Covid-19. Alsostimulated salivary flow rate was evaluated with a salivary flow test.Results: 177 patients reached and 107 of them participate in the study. Regarding gender significant differenceswere found in terms of the presence of taste impairment after treatment (p=0.007), the degree of taste (p=0.021)and smell (p=0.010) impairment. 18 % (5/27) of the patients evaluated were showed hyposalivation. No significantdifferences were observed regarding salivary flow between males (mean±SD 1.14±0.65) and females (mean±SD1.12±0.43), (p=0.928); among the patients having treatment at home (mean±SD 1.03±0.48) or hospital (mean±SD1.33±0.65), (p=0.187). In some of the patients’ taste [15], smell [23] impairment, and xerostomia [43] still observedat least two weeks after the treatment is completed.Conclusions: The most frequent finding in patients after the treatment was xerostomia. Taste and smell impair-ments were more frequently observed in females.(AU)