Abstract:
Taste and smell disorders are common symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 acute infection. In post-COVID-19 condition, symptoms can persist leading to disruption in patients\' lives, to changes in their coping skills, and to the need to develop strategies for everyday life. This study aimed to describe the perspective of a group of patients with Long-COVID-19, a condition where loss of taste and/or smell was the most predominant symptom. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Participants who had suffered SARS-CoV-2 infection and had Long-COVID-19 loss of taste and/or smell were recruited. Purposive sampling was applied, and participants were recruited until data redundancy was reached. In-depth interviews were used for data collection and thematic analysis was applied. Twelve COVID-19 survivors (75% women) were recruited. The mean age of the participants was 55 years, and the mean duration of post-COVID-19 symptoms was 25 months. Three themes were identified: (a) Living with taste and smell disorders, describing the disorders they experience on a daily basis, how their life has changed and the accompanying emotions, (b) Changes and challenges resulting from the loss of taste and smell, changes in habits, self-care and risk in certain jobs or daily activities, (c) Coping with taste and smell disorders, describing the daily strategies used and the health care received. In conclusion, Long-COVID-19 taste and/or smell disorders limit daily life and involve changes in habits, meal preparation, and the ability to detect potentially dangerous situations.
摘要:
味觉和嗅觉障碍是SARS-CoV-2急性感染的常见症状。在新冠肺炎后的情况下,症状可能持续导致患者生活中断,他们应对技能的变化,以及制定日常生活战略的需要。这项研究旨在描述一组Long-COVID-19患者的观点,这种情况下味觉和/或嗅觉丧失是最主要的症状。进行了定性的描述性研究。招募了患有SARS-CoV-2感染并患有Long-COVID-19味觉和/或嗅觉丧失的参与者。采用目的抽样,并招募参与者,直至达到数据冗余.深入访谈用于数据收集,并应用主题分析。招募了12名COVID-19幸存者(75%为女性)。参与者的平均年龄是55岁,COVID-19后症状的平均持续时间为25个月。确定了三个主题:(a)患有味觉和嗅觉障碍,描述他们每天经历的疾病,他们的生活是如何改变的,以及随之而来的情绪,(b)味觉和嗅觉丧失造成的变化和挑战,习惯的改变,在某些工作或日常活动中的自我护理和风险,(c)应付味觉和嗅觉障碍,描述使用的日常策略和接受的医疗保健。总之,长期的COVID-19味觉和/或嗅觉障碍限制了日常生活,并涉及习惯的改变,膳食准备,以及检测潜在危险情况的能力。