Recovery from COVID-19 related olfactory and gustatory dysfunction following omicron BA.1 subvariant infection: a six-month prospective study

Abstract PurposeThe aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and the recovery rate of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction 6-month after SARS-CoV-2 infection acquired during the predominance of the Omicron BA.1 subvariant.MethodsProspective study based on the sino-nasal outcome tool 22 (SNOT-22), item "sense of smell or taste" and additional outcomes. Results. Of 338 patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 completing the baseline survey, 294 (87.0%) responded to the 6-month follow-up interview. Among them, 101 (34.4 %) and 4 (1.4 %) reported an altered sense of smell or taste at baseline and at 6 months, respectively. Among the 101 patients with COVID-19-associated smell or taste dysfunction during the acute phase of the disease, 97 (96.0%) reported complete resolution at 6 months. The duration of smell or taste impairment was significantly shorter in vaccinated patients (p=0.007).ConclusionsCompared with that observed in subjects infected during the first wave of the pandemic, the recovery rate from chemosensory dysfunctions reported in the present series of patients infected during the predominance of the Omicron BA.1 subvariant was more favourable with a shorter duration being positively influenced by vaccination.