Clinical features in patients with COVID-associated parosmia / phanthosmia

Background and aims: The purpose of the study is to identify clinical signs in patients with COVID-associated parosmia / phanthosmia. Methods: The study group consisted of 185 patients 18 years old with COVID-associated parosmia / phanthosmia. SARS-CoV-2 was laboratory confirmed in all patients. The patients were taken from the Telegram group and were interviewed by a doctor after signing an informed consent. Results: There are 28% of men and 78% of women in the study group. Parosmia was observed in 93% of patients, phanthosmia - 42%, anosmia - 20%, hyposmia - 48%, hyperosmia - 5%. Almost all patients had a history of anosmia (98%). The onset of COVID-associated parosmia is often gradual, while in phanthosmia it is acute. One third of patients had a history of taste disturbance. The comorbid symptoms are increased fatigue - 100%, head fog- 55%, sleep disturbances - 46%, recurrent nasal congestion - 25%, burning in the nose - 20%, dryness in the nose - 18%. More than half of the patients have cardiovascular complaints. Most patients have a history of headache, and 69% have migraine. Half of the patients have a history of allergic diseases. Conclusion: COVID-associated parosmia / phanthosmia is more common in women - gender factor is not excluded. A combination of olfactory disturbances among themselves was more often observed, in almost all parosmia. All patients had persistent comorbid symptoms. Most of the patients had a history of migraine. Prophylactic anti-migraine therapy can be offered to patients with COVID-associated parosmia / phanthosmia.