Anosmia and ageusia good prognosis factors of COVID-19?

Abstract

Introduction: Despite being inconstant symptoms, anosmia and ageusia have been reported in the literature as factors of good prognosis. The aim was to study the correlation between anosmia and ageusia and viral pneumonia severity.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients (pp) with confirmed COVID-19 admitted in our department between october2020 and January 2021. To assess the viral pneumonia severity we used the measurement of the initial oxygen saturation(IOS) and the performance of a chest scan.

Results: A total of 100 pp of laboratory confirmed COVID-19 test by genomic analysis through polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen test. The mean age was 61.9 years. There was a male preponderance (60% male). The most general symptoms were dyspnea (100%), cough (88.9%) and fever (65.7%).  Thirty five percent and 36.4% reported anosmia and ageusia, respectively. Using the khi-2 test, there was a significant association between both disorders (p=0.000). Thirty five percent of pp with mild to moderate lesions in the chest scan had anosmia and ageusia. Using test T, anosmia and ageusia had an influence on the degree of radiological lesions (p=0.000). For pp with anosmia or ageusia the mean degree of radiological lesions was 35.45% while for pp not having these two symptoms the average was 50.94%. There was a strong correlation between the presence of anosmia and ageusia and the IOS (p=0.000) and oxygen flow (p=0.000). The mean of IOS and oxygen flow in pp with anosmia and ageusia were respectively 89.02% and 3.5l/min while the mean of these two parameters in pp not having these two clinical signs were respectively 83.6% and 7.43 l/min.

Conclusion: Anosmia and ageusia may be considered as a good prognosis factor.