Olfactory Dysfunction in Healthcare Workers with COVID-19: Prevalence and Associated Factors

• Published in: Recent advances in inflammation & allergy drug discovery Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 67
• Main Authors: Imène, Kacem, Mohamed, Kahloul, Amal, Ghenim, Mohamed, Ajmi, Asma, Chouchane, Asma, Aloui, Wael, Khalefa, Kalboussi, H, Olfa, El Maalel, Walid, Naija, Maher, Maoua, Nejib, Mrizak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Adult; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Olfaction Disorders - epidemiology; Olfaction Disorders - etiology; Olfaction Disorders - virology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Tunisia - epidemiology; Tunisia; pauci-asymptomatic; symptoms; Persisted; olfactory dysfunction; PCR; therapeutic options
• ISSN: 2772-2716
• DOI: 10.2174/0127722708249126231006061438

The COVID-19 pandemic is a real global health crisis. Its clinical presentation has evolved over time with an increasing number of symptoms. Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has recently been recognized as a frequent symptom relevant to screening for COVID-19, especially in pauci-asymptomatic forms. However, the underlying mechanisms of OD are not yet fully understood.
To determine the prevalence of OD in healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 and to identify its associated factors.
This is a cross-sectional, analytical study, carried out during a period of six months and including all healthcare workers at Farhat Hached Academic Hospital (Tunisia) who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, RAT, or chest CT scan.
A total of 474 healthcare workers were included, representing a participation rate of 85.4%. The mean age was 41.02±10.67 years with a sex ratio of 0.2. The distribution of this population by department noted that it was mainly maternity (13.9%). The most presented workstation was nursing (31.4%). OD represented 39.2% of the reasons for consultation. Hospitalization was indicated in 16 patients (3.4%). The average duration of hospitalization was 8.87 ± 7.8 days. The average time off work was 17.04 ± 11.6 days. OD persisted for more than 90 days in 35 patients (7.4%). After multiple binary logistic regression, OD was statistically associated with female gender (p =0.001; OR 95% CI: 2.46 [1.4-4.2]) and blue-collar occupational category (p =0.002; OR IC95%:3.1 [1.5-6.5]). A significant association was also noted between OD and professional seniority and absence from work duration (p =0.019; OR 95% CI: 0.97 [0.95-0.99] and p =0.03; OR 95% CI: 0.97 [0.95-0.99]) respectively.
OD is common in COVID-19 patients. The identification of its associated factors may contribute to enhancing the understanding of its mechanism and drive therapeutic options.