Course of Hyposmia and Hypogeusia and their Relationship with Severity of COVID-19 Disease among Indian Population

Aims: Hyposmia and hypogeusia are one of the symptoms of COVID-19. Occurrence and course of these symptoms and their relationship with severity of COVID-19 disease are studied.

Materials and methods: This was a prospective cohort study, including consenting adult SARS CoV-2 positive patients of both genders, admitted to a Covid Hospital in Puducherry, India. This questionnaire- based study was conducted for a period 4 months from 1st October 2020 to 31st January 2021, and collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 software.

Results: Out of 639 participants, 412 (64.5%) were males, 227 (35.5%) were females. Total cases of new onset hyposmia were 167 (26.1%), and total patients with new onset hypogeusia were 172 (26.91%). 216 (33.80%) had either hyposmia/hypogeusia. First symptom as hyposmia was noted in 49 (7.67%) patients, and as hypogeusia in 20 (3.13%) patients before development of any other symptoms. 216 (33.80%) patients had either smell or taste disturbance as one of their symptoms. By the end of 5 weeks of illness, 96.41% of hyposmic patients, and 97.67% of hypogeusic patients recovered fully. There was no statistically significant difference between presence or absence of hyposmia/hypogeusia and severity of COVID-19 disease (p value = 0.95).

Conclusion: The occurrence of hyposmia and hypogeusia among Indian COVID-19 patients is more than 26%. Presence or absence of hyposmia/hypogeusia is not a predictor of severity of COVID-19 disease. More than 96% of the patients fully recovered their sense of smell and taste sensation by the end of 5 weeks.