Effects of classical olfactory training in patients with COVID-19-related persistent loss of smell

Creative Commons License

Yaylaci A., Azak Karali E., Önal A., Aktürk D. R., Karadenizli A.

EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY, cilt.280, sa.2, ss.757-763, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 280 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00405-022-07570-w
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.757-763
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Olfactory training, Olfactory dysfunction, Loss of smell, COVID-19, Anosmia, Hyposmia
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Purpose The management of post-COVID-19 persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) is uncertain. Currently, olfactory training is the only evidence-based therapy for post-viral OD. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of classical olfactory training (COT) in the treatment of post-COVID-19 persistent OD. Materials and methods Patients with persistent OD after COVID-19 were assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks test. Fifty-one patients were then divided into two groups based on personal preference: the COT group (n = 31) included subjects who performed COT over 12 weeks, and the control group (n = 20) included subjects who did not receive any treatment. After the exclusion of eight patients, the olfactory performances of 43 patients were re-evaluated and compared to the baseline values. Results A significantly higher proportion of patients in the COT group improved their olfactory scores above the clinically important difference compared to the control group (40% versus 6%) (p = 0.014). The subjective smell improvement by COT was independent of age, gender, OD duration, presence of parosmia, or the initial olfactory score (all p > 0.05). Conclusion Twelve weeks of COT appears to increase the olfactory sensitivity in patients with persistent OD following COVID-19.