Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 28, 2020

Smell Loss Is a Prognostic Factor for Lower Severity of COVID-19

Category:

Topic:

  • A study of 949 adult patients testing positive for COVID-19 at a university medical center (February 1 to April 3) found that 21% reported loss of smell during their initial evaluation. Loss of smell was associated with younger age (mean age 46 with smell loss vs 49 without), female gender (65% vs 53%), and higher BMI (mean 33.6 vs 31.5). Smell loss was also significantly associated with history of pre-existing smell dysfunction (OR=4.7), allergic rhinitis (OR=1.8) and chronic rhinosinusitis (OR=3.7). 
  • Smell loss was significantly associated with decreased risk of hospitalization (OR=0.7), ICU admission (OR=0.38), intubation (OR=0.4), and ARDS (OR=0.5) after adjusting for demographics, BMI, allergic rhinitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis. 

Foster et al. (July 2020). Smell Loss Is a Prognostic Factor for Lower Severity of COVID-19. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2020.07.023