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Sharetts R, Moein ST, Khan R, Doty RL. Long-Term Taste and Smell Outcomes After COVID-19. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e247818. [PMID: 38652477 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.7818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Self-report surveys suggest that long-lasting taste deficits may occur after SARS-CoV-2 infection, influencing nutrition, safety, and quality of life. However, self-reports of taste dysfunction are inaccurate, commonly reflecting deficits due to olfactory not taste system pathology; hence, quantitative testing is needed to verify the association of post-COVID-19 condition with taste function. Objective To use well-validated self-administered psychophysical tests to investigate the association of COVID-19 with long-term outcomes in taste and smell function. Design, Setting, and Participants This nationwide cross-sectional study included individuals with and without a prior history of COVID-19 recruited from February 2020 to August 2023 from a social media website (Reddit) and bulletin board advertisements. In the COVID-19 cohort, there was a mean of 395 days (95% CI, 363-425 days) between diagnosis and testing. Exposure History of COVID-19. Main Outcomes and Measures The 53-item Waterless Empirical Taste Test (WETT) and 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) were used to assess taste and smell function. Total WETT and UPSIT scores and WETT subtest scores of sucrose, citric acid, sodium chloride, caffeine, and monosodium glutamate were assessed for groups with and without a COVID-19 history. The association of COVID-19 with taste and smell outcomes was assessed using analysis of covariance, χ2, and Fisher exact probability tests. Results Tests were completed by 340 individuals with prior COVID-19 (128 males [37.6%] and 212 females [62.4%]; mean [SD] age, 39.04 [14.35] years) and 434 individuals with no such history (154 males [35.5%] and 280 females [64.5%]; mean (SD) age, 39.99 [15.61] years). Taste scores did not differ between individuals with and without previous COVID-19 (total WETT age- and sex-adjusted mean score, 33.41 [95% CI, 32.37-34.45] vs 33.46 [95% CI, 32.54-34.38]; P = .94). In contrast, UPSIT scores were lower in the group with previous COVID-19 than the group without previous COVID-19 (mean score, 34.39 [95% CI, 33.86-34.92] vs 35.86 [95% CI, 35.39-36.33]; P < .001]); 103 individuals with prior COVID-19 (30.3%) and 91 individuals without prior COVID-19 (21.0%) had some degree of dysfunction (odds ratio, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.18-2.27]). The SARS-CoV-2 variant present at the time of infection was associated with smell outcomes; individuals with original untyped and Alpha variant infections exhibited more loss than those with other variant infections; for example, total to severe loss occurred in 10 of 42 individuals with Alpha variant infections (23.8%) and 7 of 52 individuals with original variant infections (13.5%) compared with 12 of 434 individuals with no COVID-19 history (2.8%) (P < .001 for all). Conclusions and Relevance In this study, taste dysfunction as measured objectively was absent 1 year after exposure to COVID-19 while some smell loss remained in nearly one-third of individuals with this exposure, likely explaining taste complaints of many individuals with post-COVID-19 condition. Infection with earlier untyped and Alpha variants was associated with the greatest degree of smell loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Sharetts
- Smell and Taste Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Research and Development Division, Sensonics International, Haddon Heights, New Jersey
| | - Shima T Moein
- Smell and Taste Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Research and Development Division, Sensonics International, Haddon Heights, New Jersey
| | - Rafa Khan
- Smell and Taste Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Richard L Doty
- Smell and Taste Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Srikantaiah VC, Bilimale AS, Doddawad VG, Marulaiah SK, Gowdappa HB, Shankaregowda R, Madhu B, Thotambailu AM, Achar RR. Evaluation of taste score and fungiform papillae quantification using digital image analysis in COVID-19 patients with smell and taste dysfunction. Dent Res J (Isfahan) 2024; 21:11. [PMID: 38476719 PMCID: PMC10929720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created a major global health crisis in recent years. Despite this, there have been few studies that have utilized reliable methods to assess changes in taste and smell perception. Therefore, our study aims at the number of fungiform papillae and objective measures of taste perception relationship among COVID-19 patients with olfactory and gustatory disorders. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which 57 COVID-19 patients were recruited who confirmed the dysfunction of taste and smell. Objective assessment of the sense of taste was evaluated using four different standardized solution preparations, and the scores were given according to the patient's statements. Digitalized quantification of fungiform papillae was counted. The data were analyzed with the Pearson's correlation coefficient using the SPSS version. 23 [Licensed JSSAHER, Mysuru, Karnataka, India], and the level of significance was set at <0.001. Results In terms of altered or reduced taste and smell, male patients exhibited a higher incidence compared to females. Compared to the sour taste, a substantial number of COVID-19 patients have displayed a notable decrease in their ability to taste sweet, salty, and bitter flavors. However, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between taste scores and fungiform papillae density (r = 0.518, P < 0.001). Conclusion Our Study demonstrated that the quantitative evaluation of taste perception and the count of fungiform papillae can serve as important indicators of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and could potentially help in the early detection and treatment of COVID-19 patients, as reduced taste function is a significant marker of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Chikkarahalli Srikantaiah
- Department of Anatomy, School of Public Health, JSS Medical College (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Anil Somashekara Bilimale
- Chief MPH Program Co-ordinator, School of Public Health, JSS Medical College (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Vidya Gowdappa Doddawad
- Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, JSS Dental College and Hospital (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Srinath Kenkere Marulaiah
- Department of Medicine, School of Public Health, JSS Medical College (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Hathur Basavana Gowdappa
- Department of Medicine, School of Public Health, JSS Medical College (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Ranjitha Shankaregowda
- Department of Microbiology, School of Public Health, JSS Medical College (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Basavegowda Madhu
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, JSS Medical College (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Amulya Manohar Thotambailu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Public Health, JSS Medical College (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Raghu Ram Achar
- Division of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences (A Constituent College of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysore, Karnataka, India
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Chao LL. Olfactory and cognitive decrements in 1991 Gulf War veterans with gulf war illness/chronic multisymptom illness. Environ Health 2024; 23:14. [PMID: 38291474 PMCID: PMC10825982 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01058-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gulf War illness (GWI)/Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI) is a disorder related to military service in the 1991 Gulf War (GW). Prominent symptoms of GWI/CMI include fatigue, pain, and cognitive dysfunction. Although anosmia is not a typical GWI/CMI symptom, anecdotally some GW veterans have reported losing their sense smell shortly after the war. Because olfactory deficit is a prodromal symptom of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and because we previously reported suggestive evidence that deployed GW veterans may be at increased risk for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia, the current study examined the relationship between olfactory and cognitive function in deployed GW veterans. METHODS Eighty deployed GW veterans (mean age: 59.9 ±7.0; 4 female) were tested remotely with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Veterans also completed self-report questionnaires about their health and deployment-related exposures and experiences. UPSIT and MoCA data from healthy control (HC) participants from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) study were downloaded for comparison. RESULTS GW veterans had a mean UPSIT score of 27.8 ± 6.3 (range 9-37) and a mean MoCA score of 25.3 ± 2.8 (range 19-30). According to age- and sex-specific normative data, 31% of GW veterans (vs. 8% PPMI HCs) had UPSIT scores below the 10th percentile. Nearly half (45%) of GW veterans (vs. 8% PPMI HCs) had MoCA scores below the cut-off for identifying MCI. Among GW veterans, but not PPMI HCs, there was a positive correlation between UPSIT and MoCA scores (Spearman's ρ = 0.39, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in UPSIT or MoCA scores between GW veterans with and without history of COVID or between those with and without Kansas GWI exclusionary conditions. CONCLUSIONS We found evidence of olfactory and cognitive deficits and a significant correlation between UPSIT and MoCA scores in a cohort of 80 deployed GW veterans, 99% of whom had CMI. Because impaired olfactory function has been associated with increased risk for MCI and dementia, it may be prudent to screen aging, deployed GW veterans with smell identification tests so that hypo- and anosmic veterans can be followed longitudinally and offered targeted neuroprotective therapies as they become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda L Chao
- Departments of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, University of Calfiornia, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA.
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Fornazieri MA, da Silva JLB, Gameiro JG, Scussiato HO, Ramos RAMR, Cunha BM, Figueiredo AF, Takahashi EH, Marin GA, Caetano IRDA, Meli TK, Higuchi DI, dos Santos RRP, Rampazzo ACM, Pinna FDR, Voegels RL, Doty RL. Chemosensory Dysfunction 3-Months After COVID-19, Medications and Factors Associated with Complete Recovery. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2023; 132:1177-1185. [PMID: 36482672 PMCID: PMC9742352 DOI: 10.1177/00034894221138485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the longitudinal prevalence and recovery of olfactory, gustatory, and oral chemesthetic deficits in a sizable cohort of SARS-CoV-2 infected persons using quantitative testing. To determine whether demographic and clinical factors, mainly the medications used after the COVID-19 diagnosis, influence the test measures. METHODS Prospective cohort in a hospital with primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 were tested during the acute infection phase (within 15 days of initial symptom, n = 187) and one (n = 113) and 3 months later (n = 73). The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, the Global Gustatory Test, and a novel test for chemesthesis were administered at all visits. RESULTS During the acute phase, 93% were anosmic or microsmic and 29.4% were hypogeusic. No one was ageusic. A deficit in oral chemesthesis was present in 13.4%. By 3 months, taste and chemesthesis had largely recovered, however, some degree of olfactory dysfunction remained in 54.8%. Remarkably, patients who had been treated with anticoagulants tended to have more olfactory improvement. Recovery was greater in men than in women, but was unrelated to disease severity, smoking behavior, or the use of various medications prior to, or during, COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS When using quantitative testing, olfactory disturbances were found in nearly all SARS-CoV-2 infected patients during the acute infection phase. Taste or chemesthetic deficits were low. Olfactory impairment persisted to some degree in over half of the patients at the 3-month follow-up evaluation, being more common in women and less common in those who had been treated earlier with anticoagulants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Aurélio Fornazieri
- Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
- Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Londrina, Brazil
- University of São Paulo, São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Richard L. Doty
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Doyle ME, Premathilake HU, Yao Q, Mazucanti CH, Egan JM. Physiology of the tongue with emphasis on taste transduction. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1193-1246. [PMID: 36422992 PMCID: PMC9942923 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00012.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The tongue is a complex multifunctional organ that interacts and senses both interoceptively and exteroceptively. Although it is easily visible to almost all of us, it is relatively understudied and what is in the literature is often contradictory or is not comprehensively reported. The tongue is both a motor and a sensory organ: motor in that it is required for speech and mastication, and sensory in that it receives information to be relayed to the central nervous system pertaining to the safety and quality of the contents of the oral cavity. Additionally, the tongue and its taste apparatus form part of an innate immune surveillance system. For example, loss or alteration in taste perception can be an early indication of infection as became evident during the present global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Here, we particularly emphasize the latest updates in the mechanisms of taste perception, taste bud formation and adult taste bud renewal, and the presence and effects of hormones on taste perception, review the understudied lingual immune system with specific reference to SARS-CoV-2, discuss nascent work on tongue microbiome, as well as address the effect of systemic disease on tongue structure and function, especially in relation to taste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máire E Doyle
- Diabetes Section/Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hasitha U Premathilake
- Diabetes Section/Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Qin Yao
- Diabetes Section/Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Caio H Mazucanti
- Diabetes Section/Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Josephine M Egan
- Diabetes Section/Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Bhatia-Dey N, Csoka AB, Heinbockel T. Chemosensory Ability and Sensitivity in Health and Disease: Epigenetic Regulation and COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044179. [PMID: 36835589 PMCID: PMC9959623 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the animal kingdom, our two chemical senses, olfaction and gustation, are defined by two primary factors: genomic architecture of the organisms and their living environment. During the past three years of the global COVID-19 pandemic, these two sensory modalities have drawn much attention at the basic science and clinical levels because of the strong association of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with viral infection. Loss of our sense of smell alone, or together with a loss of taste, has emerged as a reliable indicator of COVID-19 infection. Previously, similar dysfunctions have been detected in a large cohort of patients with chronic conditions. The research focus remains on understanding the persistence of olfactory and gustatory disturbances in the post-infection phase, especially in cases with long-term effect of infection (long COVID). Also, both sensory modalities show consistent age-related decline in studies aimed to understand the pathology of neurodegenerative conditions. Some studies using classical model organisms show an impact on neural structure and behavior in offspring as an outcome of parental olfactory experience. The methylation status of specific odorant receptors, activated in parents, is passed on to the offspring. Furthermore, experimental evidence indicates an inverse correlation of gustatory and olfactory abilities with obesity. Such diverse lines of evidence emerging from basic and clinical research studies indicate a complex interplay of genetic factors, evolutionary forces, and epigenetic alterations. Environmental factors that regulate gustation and olfaction could induce epigenetic modulation. However, in turn, such modulation leads to variable effects depending on genetic makeup and physiological status. Therefore, a layered regulatory hierarchy remains active and is passed on to multiple generations. In the present review, we attempt to understand the experimental evidence that indicates variable regulatory mechanisms through multilayered and cross-reacting pathways. Our analytical approach will add to enhancement of prevailing therapeutic interventions and bring to the forefront the significance of chemosensory modalities for the evaluation and maintenance of long-term health.
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Nguyen H, Albayay J, Höchenberger R, Bhutani S, Boesveldt S, Busch NA, Croijmans I, Cooper KW, de Groot JHB, Farruggia MC, Fjaeldstad AW, Hayes JE, Hummel T, Joseph PV, Laktionova TK, Thomas-Danguin T, Veldhuizen MG, Voznessenskaya VV, Parma V, Pepino MY, Ohla K. Covid-19 affects taste independently of smell: results from a combined chemosensory home test and online survey from a global cohort (N=10,953). MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.01.16.23284630. [PMID: 36711499 PMCID: PMC9882440 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.16.23284630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
People often confuse smell loss with taste loss, so it is unclear how much gustatory function is reduced in patients self-reporting taste loss. Our pre-registered cross-sectional study design included an online survey in 12 languages with instructions for self-administering chemosensory tests with ten household items. Between June 2020 and March 2021, 10,953 individuals participated. Of these, 3,356 self-reported a positive and 602 a negative COVID-19 diagnosis (COVID+ and COVID-, respectively); 1,267 were awaiting test results (COVID?). The rest reported no respiratory illness and were grouped by symptoms: sudden smell/taste changes (STC, N=4,445), other symptoms excluding smell or taste loss (OthS, N=832), and no symptoms (NoS, N=416). Taste, smell, and oral irritation intensities and self-assessed abilities were rated on visual analog scales. Compared to the NoS group, COVID+ was associated with a 21% reduction in taste (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 15-28%), 47% in smell (95%-CI: 37-56%), and 17% in oral irritation (95%-CI: 10-25%) intensity. In all groups, perceived intensity of smell (r=0.84), taste (r=0.68), and oral irritation (r=0.37) was correlated. Our findings suggest most reports of taste dysfunction with COVID-19 were genuine and not due to misinterpreting smell loss as taste loss (i.e., a classical taste-flavor confusion). Assessing smell and taste intensity of household items is a promising, cost-effective screening tool that complements self-reports and helps to disentangle taste loss from smell loss. However, it does not replace standardized validated psychophysical tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Nguyen
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Javier Albayay
- Università degli Studi di Trento, Centro Interdipartimentale Mente/Cervello, Rovereto, IT
| | | | - Surabhi Bhutani
- San Diego State University, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sanne Boesveldt
- Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen, NL
| | - Niko A Busch
- University of Münster, Institute for Psychology, Münster, DE
| | - Ilja Croijmans
- Radboud University, Language and communication, Nijmegen, Gelderland, NL
| | - Keiland W Cooper
- University of California Irvine, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Alexander W Fjaeldstad
- Gødstrup Regional Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Flavour Clinic, University Clinic for Flavour, Balance and Sleep, Herning, DK
| | - John E Hayes
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Food Science, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Thomas Hummel
- University of Dresden Medical School, Smell & Taste Clinic, Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Dresden, DE
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Paule Joseph, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, DIBCR, Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tatiana K Laktionova
- Tatiana K. Laktionova, A N Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Moscow, RU
| | - Thierry Thomas-Danguin
- Thierry Thomas-Danguin, INRAE CSGA, Research Center for Smell Taste and Feeding Behavior, Dijon, FR
| | | | - Vera V Voznessenskaya
- Tatiana K. Laktionova, A N Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Moscow, RU
| | | | - M Yanina Pepino
- University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kathrin Ohla
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Food Science, University Park, PA, USA
- Helmut-Schmidt-University / University of the Armed Forces Hamburg, Experimental Psychology Unit, Hamburg, DE
- Firmenich SA, Human Perception & Bioresponse, Satigny, CH
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Hannum ME, Koch RJ, Ramirez VA, Marks SS, Toskala AK, Herriman RD, Lin C, Joseph PV, Reed DR. Reply: taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chem Senses 2023; 48:bjad012. [PMID: 37503715 PMCID: PMC10653024 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E Hannum
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
| | - Riley J Koch
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
| | - Vicente A Ramirez
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
- Department of Public Health, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95348, United States
| | - Sarah S Marks
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
| | - Aurora K Toskala
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
| | - Riley D Herriman
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
| | - Cailu Lin
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Danielle R Reed
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
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Ferrulli A, Senesi P, Terruzzi I, Luzi L. Eating Habits and Body Weight Changes Induced by Variation in Smell and Taste in Patients with Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14235068. [PMID: 36501098 PMCID: PMC9738767 DOI: 10.3390/nu14235068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction are recognized as common symptoms in patients with COVID-19, with a prevalence ranging, respectively, between 41-61% and 38.2-49%. This review focused on relating the variations in dietary habits with the reduction/loss of smell and/or taste in patients who contracted the COVID-19 infection. Primarily, we reviewed the main pathological mechanisms involved in COVID 19-induced anosmia/dysosmia and ageusia/dysgeusia. Then, we explored and summarized the behavioural changes in food intake and body weight during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to sensory impairment and the underlying mechanisms. Most studies on this topic argue that the altered chemosensory perception (taste and smell) mainly induces reduced appetite, leading to a faster fullness sensation during the consumption of a meal and, therefore, to a decrease in body weight. On the other hand, a reduced perception of the food's sensory properties may trigger compensatory responses that lead some individuals to increase food intake with a different effect on body weight. Regarding body weight, most studies evaluated malnutrition in patients hospitalized for COVID-19; more studies are warranted to investigate nutritional status specifically in non-hospitalized patients with olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions caused by COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ferrulli
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +39-02-8599-4572
| | - Pamela Senesi
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Ileana Terruzzi
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Livio Luzi
- Department of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Chemosensory Dysfunction in Long-Term COVID-19 Assessed by Self-Reported and Direct Psychophysical Methods. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12101487. [PMID: 36294922 PMCID: PMC9604579 DOI: 10.3390/life12101487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory dysfunction is a frequent postacute sequela of COVID-19. Depending on the type of test used to measure it (self-report vs. direct test), the degree of chemosensory dysfunction in long-term COVID-19 has been found to be highly variable. In this manuscript, we report the cross-sectional data (first assessment) of a longitudinal study (6-month follow-up) examining smell, taste, and chemesthesis in participants affected by long-term COVID-19 (COVID+) and participants without COVID-19 (COVID−) by means of both self-reported and direct psychophysical methods. In total, 208 Italian participants (COVID+ n = 133; COVID− n = 75) completed the Smell and Taste Check developed by the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research (GCCR), which includes self-reports on smell, taste, and chemesthetic abilities as well as direct intensity ratings of unstandardized smell, taste, and chemesthetic household items. Furthermore, all participants completed SCENTinel, a validated direct smell test. We found a positive association between the self-reported, unstandardized direct test and the validated direct test for smell, indicating moderate to large agreement across measures. Furthermore, the performance on SCENTinel was significantly associated with self-reported smell loss. A positive association between the self-reports and the intensity of household items was also retrieved for taste and chemesthesis. The time relative to COVID-19 onset (267.3 ± 113.9 days) did not modulate the chemosensory performance of self-reported abilities, intensity ratings, and SCENTinel. All in all, we confirm the impairment of three chemical senses (smell, taste, and chemesthesis) in an independent sample of Italian participants affected by long-term COVID-19 by using and comparing self-reported and direct psychophysical methods. We contribute to the discussion on best practices to monitor chemosensory dysfunction in individuals affected by long-term COVID-19.
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Changes in smell and taste perception related to COVID-19 infection: a case-control study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8192. [PMID: 35581235 PMCID: PMC9112641 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11864-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The main aim of the present study was to psychophysically evaluate smell and taste functions in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and to compare those results with a group of healthy subjects. Another aim of the study was to assess the relationship of changes in patients’ smell and taste functions with a number of clinical parameters, symptoms, and other physiological signs as well as with severity of disease. Olfactory and gustatory functions were tested in 61 hospitalized patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and in a control group of 54 healthy individuals. Overall, we found a significant impairment of olfactory and gustatory functions in COVID-19 patients compared with the control group. Indeed, about 45% of patients self-reported complaints about or loss of either olfactory or gustatory functions. These results were confirmed by psychophysical testing, which showed a significantly reduced performance in terms of intensity perception and identification ability for both taste and smell functions in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, gustatory and olfactory impairments tended to be more evident in male patients suffering from more severe respiratory failure (i.e., pneumonia with need of respiratory support need during hospitalization).
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Hannum ME, Koch RJ, Ramirez VA, Marks SS, Toskala AK, Herriman RD, Lin C, Joseph PV, Reed DR. Taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chem Senses 2022; 47:bjac001. [PMID: 35171979 PMCID: PMC8849313 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19 taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020-2021, with 241 meeting all inclusion criteria. Drawing on previous studies and guided by early meta-analyses, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct measures of taste are at least as sensitive as those obtained by self-report and that the preponderance of evidence confirms taste loss is a symptom of COVID-19. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,897 COVID-19-positive patients, 39.2% reported taste dysfunction (95% confidence interval: 35.34%-43.12%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 18) versus self-report (n = 223) methodologies (Q = 0.57, df = 1, P = 0.45). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females, and taste loss was highest among middle-aged adults. Thus, taste loss is likely a bona fide symptom of COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E Hannum
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Riley J Koch
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Vicente A Ramirez
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
- Department of Public Health, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95348, USA
| | - Sarah S Marks
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Aurora K Toskala
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Riley D Herriman
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Cailu Lin
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Danielle R Reed
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
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Sheen F, Tan V, Lim AJ, Haldar S, Sengupta S, Allen D, Somani J, Chen HY, Tambyah P, Forde CG. The COVOSMIA-19 trial: Preliminary application of the Singapore smell and taste test to objectively measure smell and taste function with COVID-19. Food Qual Prefer 2021; 97:104482. [PMID: 34848929 PMCID: PMC8612753 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Sudden loss of smell and/or taste has been identified as an early symptom of SARS-CoV-2 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and presents an effective target for prompt self-isolation and reducing community spread. The current study sought to develop and test a novel, rapid, self-administered test to objectively measure smell and taste losses associated with COVID-19, and administered self-report questionnaires to characterise symptoms associated with COVID-19 in Singapore. Participants (N = 99) completed questionnaires to record recent changes in smell and taste ability. This was followed by the ‘Singapore Smell and Taste Test’ (SSTT), a personal, objective testing kit for daily self-assessment of smell and taste function at their place of residence. Seventy-two recruited participants were confirmed as COVID-19 positive at baseline, of which 58 completed the SSTT at home. Of these, 36.2% had objectively measured smell and/or taste loss. The SSTT measures of smell and taste function were positively associated with participants’ self-reported smell and taste acuity, and rated smell intensity of 6 common household items. This study presents the first application of the SSTT as a rapid, cost-effective, objective tool to self-monitor smell and taste function in a residential setting, and ensures comparability across individuals through the use of standardised stimuli. The SSTT has potential for future application in populations with limited access to formal COVID-19 testing as a self-administered objective method to monitor sudden changes in smell and taste, and to prompt early self-isolation, in order to reduce community transmission of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Sheen
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Vicki Tan
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Amanda JiaYing Lim
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Sumanto Haldar
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore
| | - Sharmila Sengupta
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - David Allen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore
| | - Jyoti Somani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore
| | - Hui Yee Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Paul Tambyah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore
| | - Ciarán G Forde
- Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC), Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency of Science and Research (ASTAR), Singapore.,Wageningen University, Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour, Division of Human Nutrition, the Netherlands
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Pang KW, Tham SL, Ng LS. Exploring the Clinical Utility of Gustatory Dysfunction (GD) as a Triage Symptom Prior to Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in the Diagnosis of COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:1315. [PMID: 34947846 PMCID: PMC8706269 DOI: 10.3390/life11121315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of COVID-19 is made using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) but its sensitivity varies from 20 to 100%. The presence of gustatory dysfunction (GD) in a patient with upper respiratory tract symptoms might increase the clinical suspicion of COVID-19. AIMS To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of using GD as a triage symptom prior to RT-PCR. METHODS PubMed and Embase were searched up to 20 June 2021. Studies published in English were included if they compared the frequency of GD in COVID-19 adult patients (proven by RT-PCR) to COVID-19 negative controls in case control or cross-sectional studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS 21,272 COVID-19 patients and 52,298 COVID-19 negative patients were included across 44 studies from 21 countries. All studies were of moderate to high risk of bias. Patients with GD were more likely to test positive for COVID-19: DOR 6.39 (4.86-8.40), LR+ 3.84 (3.04-4.84), LR- 0.67 (0.64-0.70), pooled sensitivity 0.37 (0.29-0.47) and pooled specificity 0.92 (0.89-0.94). While history/questionnaire-based assessments were predictive of RT-PCR positivity (DOR 6.62 (4.95-8.85)), gustatory testing was not (DOR 3.53 (0.98-12.7)). There was significant heterogeneity among the 44 studies (I2 = 92%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS GD is useful as a symptom to determine if a patient should undergo further testing, especially in resource-poor regions where COVID-19 testing is scarce. Patients with GD may be advised to quarantine while repeated testing is performed if the initial RT-PCR is negative. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khang Wen Pang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore 119228, Singapore; (S.-L.T.); (L.S.N.)
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Hannum ME, Koch RJ, Ramirez VA, Marks SS, Toskala AK, Herriman RD, Lin C, Joseph PV, Reed DR. Taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.10.09.21264771. [PMID: 34671775 PMCID: PMC8528083 DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.09.21264771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19, taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020-2021, with 241 meeting all inclusion criteria. Additionally, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct prevalence measures of taste loss would be the most valid because they avoid the taste/smell confusion of self-report. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,897 COVID-19-positive patients, 39.2% reported taste dysfunction (95% CI: 35.34-43.12%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 18) versus self-report (n = 223) methodologies (Q = 0.57, df = 1, p = 0.45). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females and taste loss was highest in middle-aged groups. Thus, taste loss is a bona fide symptom COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Riley J Koch
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Vicente A Ramirez
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
- Department of Public Health, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95348
| | - Sarah S Marks
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Aurora K Toskala
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Riley D Herriman
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Cailu Lin
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
| | - Paule V Joseph
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Danielle R Reed
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19104
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Comparison of Brain Activation Patterns during Olfactory Stimuli between Recovered COVID-19 Patients and Healthy Controls: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11080968. [PMID: 34439587 PMCID: PMC8391911 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11080968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired sense of smell occurs in a fraction of patients with COVID-19 infection, but its effect on cerebral activity is unknown. Thus, this case report investigated the effect of COVID-19 infection on frontotemporal cortex activity during olfactory stimuli. In this preliminary study, patients who recovered from COVID-19 infection (n = 6) and healthy controls who never contracted COVID-19 (n = 6) were recruited. Relative changes in frontotemporal cortex oxy-hemoglobin during olfactory stimuli was acquired using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The area under curve (AUC) of oxy-hemoglobin for the time interval 5 s before and 15 s after olfactory stimuli was derived. In addition, olfactory function was assessed using the Sniffin’ Sticks 12-identification test (SIT-12). Patients had lower SIT-12 scores than healthy controls (p = 0.026), but there were no differences in oxy-hemoglobin AUC between healthy controls and patients (p > 0.05). This suggests that past COVID-19 infection may not affect frontotemporal cortex function, and these preliminary results need to be verified in larger samples.
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