Association between Administration of Systemic Corticosteroids and the Recovery of Olfactory and/or Gustatory Functions in Patients with COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study

Yasmine Gamil; Radwa M. Ismail; Ahmed Abdou; Alshaimaa A. Shabaan; Mohamed G. Hamed

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.8599

Authors

Yasmine Gamil Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology and Oral Diagnosis, Faculty of Dentistry, Modern University of Information and Technology, Cairo, Egypt
Radwa M. Ismail Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology and Oral Diagnosis. Faculty of Dentistry, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed Abdou Department of Prosthodontic Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, King Salman International University, El Tur, South Sinai, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4830-4594
Alshaimaa A. Shabaan Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Fayoum University, Misr University for Science and Technology, Cairo, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6105-4999
Mohamed G. Hamed Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.8599

Keywords:

Corona virus, Olfactory dysfunction, Gustatory dysfunction, Corticosteroids

Abstract

AIM: This study is a prospective cohort study aimed to assess the effect of systemic corticosteroids administration time in the recovery of gustatory and olfactory sensations dysfunction (ageusia and anosmia) in COVID-19 patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven COVID-19 patients with symptoms of ageusia and anosmia were recruited (that their COVID infection was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction). Daily 10 mg of systemic corticosteroids were prescribed in the 1st week and then reduced to 5 mg in the 2nd week to all the patients to observe taste and smell sensation recovery. All data were recorded and then analyzed. Patients were then grouped into two groups (early and late groups) according to the duration of their taste and smell dysfunction.

RESULTS: Regression analysis showed that early corticosteroid administration resulted in a significant decrease in recovery time of ageusia and anosmia (0.27 [0.2–0.35], p < 0.001). Patients in the early administration group (<1 week) showed faster improvement in regaining taste and smell functions than in the late administration group (>1 week) with significant difference (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The use of systemic corticosteroids in early phases of covid-19 infection help in faster recovery of ageusia and anosmia.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

References

Kanjanaumporn J, Aeumjaturapat S, Snidvongs K, Seresirikachorn K, Chusakul S. Smell and taste dysfunction in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: A review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment options. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2020;38(2):69-77. https://doi.org/10.12932/AP-030520-0826 PMid:32563234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12932/AP-030520-0826

Hu B, Guo H, Zhou P, Shi Z. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2021;19(3):141-54. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-020-00459-7 PMid:33024307 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-020-00459-7

Gupta A, Madhavan M, Sehgal K, Nair N, Mahajan S, Landry D, et al. Extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19. Nat Med. 2020;26(7):1017-32. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0968-3 PMid:32651579 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0968-3

Koyama S, Ueha R, Kondo K. Loss of smell and taste in patients with suspected COVID-19: Analyses of patients’ reports on social media. J Med Internet Res. 2021;23(4):e26459. https://doi.org/10.2196/26459 PMid:33788699 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/26459

Vaira LA, Deiana GI, Fois AG, Pirina P, Madeddu G, De Riu G, et al. Objective evaluation of anosmia and ageusia in COVID-19 patients: Single-center experience on 72 cases. Head Neck. 2020;42(6):1252-8. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.26204 PMid:32342566 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.26204

Mao LI, Jin HU, Wang ME, Hu Yu, Chen SH, Li Y, et al. Neurologic Manifestations of Hospitalized Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Neurol. 2020;77(6):683-90. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.1127 PMid:32275288 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.1127

Kandakure VI, Valvi HA, Khokle PR, More MA, Chouhan RI. Prevalence and recovery from newly onset anosmia and ageusia in Covid 19 patients at our teritary care centre. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-021-02540-w PMid:33868972 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-021-02540-w

Le Bon SD, Konopnicki DE, Pisarski NA, Prunier LE, Lechien JE, Horoi MI. Efficacy and safety of oral corticosteroids and olfactory training in the management of COVID-19-related loss of smell. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021; 278:3113–3117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06520-8 PMid:33423106 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06520-8

Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. New York: Routledge. 1988. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00863 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00863

Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav Res Methods. 2007;39(2):175-91. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146 PMid:17695343 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146

Nalbandian AN, Sehgal K, Gupta A, Madhavan M, Mcgroder C, Wan E, et al. Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Nat Med. 2021;27(4):601-15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01283-z PMid:33753937 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01283-z

Vaira LA, Hopkins C, Lechien J, Cutrupi S, Salzano G, De Riu G, et al. Efficacy of corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of long- lasting olfactory disorders in COVID-19 patients. Rhinology. 2021;59(1):21-5. https://doi.org/10.4193/rhin20.515 PMid:33290446 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4193/Rhin20.515

Saussez SV, Vaira LA, Carlos CH, Le Bon SE, Horoi MI, Lechien JE. Short-term efficacy and safety of oral and nasal corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients with olfactory dysfunction: A European multicenter study. Pathogens. 2021;10(6):698. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10060698 PMid:34199734 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10060698

Genetzaki S, Tsakiropoulou E, Nikolaidis V, Markou K, Konstantinidis I. Postinfectious olfactory dysfunction: Oral steroids and olfactory training versus olfactory training alone: Is There any benefit from steroids? ORL. 2021;83:387-94. https://doi.org/10.1159/000516316 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000516316

Beecher KA, St John JA, Chehrehasa F. Factors that modulate olfactory dysfunction. Neural Regen Res. 2018;13(7):1151-5. https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.235018 PMid:30028314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.235018

Wang X, Zhu Y, Ni D, Lv W, Gao Z, Qi F. Intranasal application of glucocorticoid alleviates olfactory dysfunction in mice with allergic rhinitis. Exp Ther Med. 2017;14(5):3971-8. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5042 PMid:29075337 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.5042

Touisserkani SA, Ayatollahi AZ. Oral corticosteroid relieves post-COVID-19 anosmia in a 35-year-old patient. Case Rep Otolaryngol. 2020;2020:5892047. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5892047 PMid:32802540 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5892047

Takaki MI, Katsuhisa IK, Takuya IS, Masayoshi KO, Kenji KO, Yuichi KU, et al. Clinical Practice guidelines for the management of olfactory dysfunction-Secondary publication. Auris Nasdus Larynx. 2019;46(5):653-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2019.04.002 PMid:31076272 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2019.04.002

Dora LI, Alexandera AH, Leanne WA, Preetha KR, Mandelcorn EF, Harold K, et al. A Practical Guide to the monitoring and the management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2013;9(1):30. https://doi.org/10.1186/1710-1492-9-30 PMid:23947590 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1710-1492-9-30

Riad AB, Shabaan AA, Issa JU, Ibrahim SA, Amer HA, Attia SA, et al. COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM): Caseseries and global analysis of mortality risk factors. J Fungi. 2021;7(10):837. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7100837 PMid:34682258 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7100837