%0 Journal Article
%T Olfactory recovery following omicron variant infection: a psychophysical prospective case-control study with six-month follow up.
%A Vaira LA
%A Boscolo-Rizzo P
%A Lechien JR
%A Mayo-Yáñez M
%A Petrocelli M
%A Pistidda L
%A Salzano G
%A Maglitto F
%A Hopkins C
%A De Riu G
%J J Laryngol Otol
%V 137
%N 12
%D 2023 Dec 17
%M 37194489
%F 2.187
%R 10.1017/S0022215123000877
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study aimed to evaluate the recovery of olfactory function at six months in individuals infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 omicron variant, using psychophysical tests.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A prospective case-control study that included severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 patients infected in February and March 2022 was conducted. Patients underwent the Sniffin' Sticks test within 10 days of infection and again after at least 6 months. The olfactory scores were compared with those of a control group.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>In all, 102 patients and 120 controls were enrolled in the study. At baseline, 26 patients (25.5 per cent) self-reported smell loss. The median threshold, discrimination and identification score was 33.6 (interquartile range, 12.5) for the cases and 36.5 (interquartile range, 4.38) for the controls (p < 0.001). Based on the threshold, discrimination and identification scores, 12 controls and 34 patients reported olfactory dysfunction (p < 0.001). Eighty cases underwent re-evaluation at six months; the median threshold, discrimination and identification score was 37.1 (interquartile range, 4.75) with no significant differences compared with the controls.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Six months after infection, the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in patients did not differ significantly from the control population.