{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: The Prognostic Value of Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients with COVID-19: The COVIDORA Study.
{Author}: Hamel AL;Delbos L;Natella PA;Radulesco T;Alexandru M;Bartaire E;Bartier S;Benoite G;Bequignon E;Castillo L;Canouï-Poitrine F;Carsuzaa F;Corré A;Coste A;Couloigner V;Daveau C;De Boissieu P;De Bonnecaze G;De Gabory L;Debry C;Deraedt S;Dufour X;El Bakkouri W;Gilain L;Hans S;Hautefort C;Hermann R;Jankowski R;La Croix C;Lecanu JB;Malard O;Michel J;Nguyen Y;Nevoux J;Papon JF;Patron V;Prigent M;Pruliere-Escabasse V;Renaud M;Rumeau C;Salmon D;Saroul N;Serrano E;Nhung Tran Khai C;Tringali S;Truy E;Vandersteen C;Verillaud B;Veil R;Fieux M;
{Journal}: Life (Basel)
{Volume}: 14
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 2024 Feb 22
{Factor}: 3.251
{DOI}: 10.3390/life14030293
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Among all studies describing COVID-19 clinical features during the first wave of the pandemic, only a few retrospective studies have assessed the correlation between olfac-tory dysfunction (OD) and the evolution of disease severity. The main aim was to assess whether OD is a predictive factor of COVID-19 severity based on the patient's medical management (outpa-tient care, standard hospital admission, and ICU admission).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A national, prospective, mul-ticenter cohort study was conducted in 20 public hospitals and a public center for COVID-19 screen-ing. During the first wave of the pandemic, from 6 April to 11 May 2020, all patients tested positive for COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR underwent two follow-up ENT consultations within 10 days of symptom onset. The main outcome measures were the evolution of medical management (out-patient care, standard hospital admission, and ICU admission) at diagnosis and along the clinical course of COVID-19 disease.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Among 481 patients included, the prevalence of OD was 60.7%, and it affected mostly female patients (74.3%) under 65 years old (92.5%), with fewer comor-bidities than patients with normal olfactory function. Here, 99.3% (290/292) of patients with OD presented with non-severe COVID-19 disease. Patients reporting OD were significantly less hospi-talized than the ones managed as outpatients, in either a standard medical unit or an ICU. Conclu-sions: As regards the clinical course of COVID-19 disease, OD could predict a decreased risk of hospitalization during the first wave of the pandemic.