Anosmia and dysgeusia associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: an age-matched case–control study

Alex Carignan; Louis Valiquette; Cynthia Grenier; Jean Berchmans Musonera; Delphin Nkengurutse; Anaïs Marcil-Héguy; Kim Vettese; Dominique Marcoux; Corinne Valiquette; Wei Ting Xiong; Pierre-Hughes Fortier; Mélissa Généreux; Jacques Pépin

doi:10.1503/cmaj.200869

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Table 1:

Characteristics of patients who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and control patients

Characteristic	No. (%) of patients^*		Crude OR (95% CI)
Characteristic	Control patients n = 134	SARS-CoV-2-positive patients n = 134	Crude OR (95% CI)
Age, yr, median (IQR)	57.2 (42.6–64.4)	57.1 (41.2–64.5)	–
Sex
Female	81 (60.4)	70 (52.2)	1.0 (Ref.)
Male	53 (39.6)	64 (47.8)	1.3 (0.8–2.1)
Smoking
Never smoked	75 (56.0)	75 (56.0)	1.0 (Ref.)
Past smoker	46 (34.3)	44 (32.8)	0.9 (0.5–1.7)
Active smoker	13 (9.7)	15 (11.2)	1.1 (0.5–2.4)
Seasonal allergies	20 (14.9)	16 (11.9)	0.8 (0.4–1.6)
Allergy to furry animals	17(12.7)	12 (9.0)	0.6 (0.3–1.5)
Year-round nasal congestion	14 (10.4)	18 (13.4)	1.3 (0.6–2.7)
Year-round nasal drip	16 (11.9)	15 (11.2)	0.9 (0.4–1.9)
Long-term use of nasal corticosteroid sprays
No	122 (91.0)	124 (92.5)	1.0 (Ref.)
Occasionally	6 (4.5)	3 (2.2)	0.5 (0.1–2..0)
Continuous use	6 (4.5)	7 (5.2)	1.2 (0.4–3.5)
Signs and symptoms (within 72 h before or after SARS-CoV-2 testing)
Anosmia	6 (4.5)	69 (51.5)	32.5 (8.0–132.7)
Dysgeusia	9 (6.7)	85 (63.4)	16.2 (6.6–40.0)
Anosmia and/or dysgeusia	11 (8.2)	87 (64.9)	20.0 (7.3–54.6)
Asthenia	58 (43.3)	104 (77.6)	3.9 (2.2–6.7)
Myalgia	29 (21.6)	76 (56.7)	4.9 (2.6–9.2)
Arthralgia	19 (14.2)	37 (27.6)	2.2 (1.2–4.1)
Chest pain	30 (22.4)	35 (26.1)	1.2 (0.7–2.2)
Dyspnea	49 (36.6)	56 (41.8)	1.2 (0.8–2.0)
Chills	32 (23.9)	71 (53.0)	2.7 (1.7–4.7)
Fever (subjective)	35 (26.1)	46 (34.3)	1.5 (0.9–2.6)
Fever (objective)	20 (14.9)	50 (37.3)	2.9 (1.6–5.1)
Nasal congestion	56 (41.8)	58 (43.3)	1.1 (0.6–1.9)
Nasal drip	73 (54.5)	60 (44.8)	0.6 (0.3–1.0)
Sneezing	58 (43.3)	53 (39.6)	0.8 (0.5–1.4)
Sore throat	72 (53.7)	60 (44.8)	0.7 (0.4–1.1)
Cough	96 (71.6)	97 (72.4)	1.0 (0.6–1.7)
Sputum production	43 (32.1)	40 (29.8)	0.9 (0.6–1.5)
Loss of appetite	26 (19.4)	75 (56.0)	4.1 (2.4–7.0)
Nausea	17 (12.7)	40 (29.8)	2.9 (1.5–5.6)
Vomiting	5 (3.7)	9 (6.7)	1.8 (0.6–5.4)
Diarrhea	31 (23.1)	60 (44.8)	2.7 (1.6–4.7)
Headaches	62 (46.3)	87 (64.9)	2.9 (1.3–3.4)
Red eyes	3 (2.2)	1 (0.7)	0.3 (0.0–3.2)
Rash	6 (4.5)	8 (6.0)	1.4 (0.4–4.4)
Vertigo or dizziness	14 (10.4)	27 (20.1)	2.3 (1.1–4.8)
Blurred vision	9 (6.7)	6 (4.5)	0.7 (0.2–1.9)
Loss of temperature sensation in face	1 (0.7)	5 (3.7)	5.0 (0.6–42.9)

Note: CI = confidence interval, IQR = interquartile range, OR = odds ratio, Ref. = reference, SARS-CoV-2 = severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
↵* Except where noted otherwise.

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Table 2:

Characteristics of patients who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and had anosmia or dysgeusia

Characteristic	No. (%) of patients^*
Self-described change in olfactory capacity (n = 69)
Light	6 (9)
Moderate	12 (17)
Severe	51 (74)
Onset of change in olfactory capacity (n = 69)
Progressive (over several days)	19 (28)
Sudden	50 (72)
Capacity to recognize specific odours (n = 69)
Perfume
Not at all	38 (55)
Weak	22 (34)
Good	3 (4)
Very good	1 (2)
Not applicable	5 (7)
Smoke
Not at all	32 (46)
Weak	17 (25)
Good	5 (7)
Very good	1 (2)
Not applicable	14 (20)
Garbage
Not at all	36 (52)
Weak	21 (30)
Good	2 (3)
Very good	1 (2)
Not applicable	9 (13)
Coffee
Not at all	35 (51)
Weak	27 (39)
Good	2 (3)
Very good	1 (2)
Not applicable	4 (6)
Modification/alteration in tasting capacity (n = 85)	31 (37)
Loss of tasting capacity (n = 85)	68 (81)
Onset of change in tasting capacity (n = 85)
Progressive (over several days)	33 (39)
Sudden	52 (61)
Self-described change/alteration in tasting capacity (n = 85)
Light	8 (9)
Moderate	31 (36)
Severe	46 (54)