Long-term prevalence of taste and olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to investigate the long-term prevalence of taste disorder (TD) and olfactory disorder (OD) and associated risk factors in the non-hospitalized southeastern Brazil population of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional open survey evaluated possible long-term OD and TD in non-hospitalized patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 for more than 30 days, through an online self-report questionnaire. Demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, and the intensity of OD and TD at the time of diagnosis and at the time of completing the questionnaire were evaluated.

Results: Three hundred five responses were included. The reported prevalence of OD and TD was 72.9% and 67.4%, respectively, in the moment of diagnosis; after a mean follow-up period of 179 days, 45% and 50% still had some degree of the symptoms. There was a positive correlation between age and the high prevalence of OD (p = 0.02). However, there was no correlation between age and TD (p = 0.961) and weight in relation to OD/TD (p = 0.500 and p = 0.636, respectively).

Conclusion: This study observed a high long-term prevalence of OD and TD associated with COVID-19, with a low recovery rate during the study period. There was a positive association between older participants and the prevalence of OD.