Prevalence of Anosmia or Ageusia in Patients With COVID-19 Among United Arab Emirates Population

Objective

The aim of this research was to determine the relationship and prevalence of taste and smell dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population.

Methods

Enrolled participants were interviewed online via a phone call after obtaining their informed consent. Quantification of smell, taste, and other sensations before, during, and after COVID-19 infection was correlated with the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

Results

A total of 500 patients with (mild–severe) COVID-19 completed the survey. A total of 26.4% were asymptomatic, and 21.4% were classified as paucisymptomatic with less severe symptoms. Almost equal proportions of the studied population experienced extreme taste sensation reductions (43%) and loss of smell sensation (44%). Statistically significant drastic decreases in smell and taste senses were seen among younger individuals. The magnitude of reduction in both sense changes increased steeply from the asymptomatic group to the paucisymptomatic group to the symptomatic group.

Conclusions

Sudden anosmia or ageusia need to be recognised for early detection of COVID-19 infection to identify otherwise hidden carriers, thus favoring an early isolation strategy that will restrict the spread of the disease.

Concha bullosa, nasal septal deviation, and their impacts on maxillary sinus volume among Emirati people: A cone-beam computed tomography study

Purpose

To determine the prevalence of concha bullosa (CB) and nasal septal deviation (NSD) and their impact on maxillary sinus volume (MSV).

Materials and Methods

Cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images of 106 Emirati people were used in this study. The direction and angle of septal deviation were calculated. The presence of CB, which could be unilateral, contralateral, or bilateral in relation to the direction of NSD, was also recorded. MSV was measured using reconstructed Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine images on Dolphin 3D imaging software version 11.8 premium (Dolphin Imaging, Chatsworth, CA, USA). P values <0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results

CB was detected in 37.7% of the sample; 20.7% of the sample showed single unilateral CB and 16.6% had single bilateral CB. NSD was seen in 74.5% of the sample. In the participants with CB, 45.5% showed mild deviation, 34.4% showed moderate deviation, and only 12.5% showed severe septal deviation. CB, but not NSD, was associated with significantly higher MSV on the affected side (P=0.001).

Conclusion

Although NSD was observed in more than two-thirds of the sample and CB was present in more than one-third of the sample, only CB had a significant impact on MSV.

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss among dental professionals

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the persistent high-frequency noise produced by dental equipment could cause hearing impairment among the dental professionals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

METHOD AND MATERIALS

This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the hearing capacity of 90 randomly selected dental practitioners from different specialties working in the UAE. The participants were approached in their workplace and their hearing capacity was evaluated using the pure tone audiometer.

RESULTS

Twenty dental practitioners suffered from hearing impairment, which constitutes 22.2% of the studied sample. At high frequencies, left ears were more affected than right ears, but this was not statistically significant. There was a direct relationship between working hours per week and the hearing capacity, but this did not reach a statistically significant level. The lowest hearing capacity was detected in males at a significantly lower value compared to females.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive correlation was found between years of experience and reduced hearing capacity among dental practitioners. In addition, males had a significantly higher median count of severely affected hearing frequencies compared to females. Online pure tone audiometric testing is an easy, cost-effective tool that can be used to self-assess the hearing capacity of dental professionals, and it is recommended to perform this test annually.