Abstract Details

Title Asymptomatic olfactory dysfunction in nonintubated patients with moderate and severe COVID-19

Topic Infectious Disease

Presentation(s) Infectious Disease Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 063

Objective To evaluate the frequency of asymptomatic olfactory dysfunction (OD) in nonintubated patients with moderate and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Background Many patients with COVID-19 reported OD. However, most studies relied on self-reported data. A few studies have recently used olfactory psychophysical assessment tools, but it is difficult to implement such strategies in a real-life setting. Asymptomatic OD (aOD) has been anecdotally reported during the early stages of COVID-19. Nevertheless, there is currently no study focusing on the prevalence of OD clinically identified through a typical neurologic examination in those patients with COVID-19 who denied this symptom during history taking.

Design/Methods

Adult inpatients at the Hospital Juárez de México (Mexico City) were recruited if they were nonintubated and SARS-CoV-2 was detected by real-time RT-PCR in any biological specimen. Olfactory function was assessed using a widely known technique in general neurologic practice. Standard definitions were also taken from the same authoritative source. COVID-19 severity was classified according to Gandhi et al (2020).

Results 23 patients (10 women) were included. The mean age was 45.7±13.6 years. Only five patients reported OD during history taking. Of those who denied this symptom (n = 18), any OD was identified in 8 patients through neurologic examination (44.4%). Two of these patients with aOD reported taste impairment during focused history taking. No differences according to gender were found in OD identified through neurologic examination. OD prevalence increased from 21.7% using history taking alone to 56.5% with the addition of a standard neurologic examination (difference: 34.7%; P = 0.007).

Conclusions In daily practice, simply asking for OD may not be enough to detect this impairment in nonintubated patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. If these findings can be replicated in further studies, consideration should be given to modify our current screening strategies for OD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Guillermo R. Delgado-Garcia, MD, MSc (University of Calgary - Alberta Health Services)	Dr. Delgado-Garcia has received research support from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Mexico). Dr. Delgado-Garcia has received research support from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Mexico). Dr. Delgado-Garcia has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Team Member with Neurology Resident & Fellow Section that is relevant to �鶹��ýӳ�� interests or activities. Dr. Delgado-Garcia has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board Member with Brain and Life en Espanol that is relevant to �鶹��ýӳ�� interests or activities. Dr. Delgado-Garcia has a non-compensated relationship as a Editorial Board Member with Neurology Clinical Practice that is relevant to �鶹��ýӳ�� interests or activities.
	No disclosure on file
Jose Antonio Fernandez, MD	No disclosure on file

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