scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on Sense of Smell: Human Factors/Ergonomics Considerations

2021 ◽  
pp. 001872082199016
Author(s):  
E. Leslie Cameron ◽  
Per Møller ◽  
Keith S. Karn
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
System Communication ◽  
Human System ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Human Sense ◽  
Smell Loss

Objective We review the effects of COVID-19 on the human sense of smell (olfaction) and discuss implications for human-system interactions. We emphasize how critical smell is and how the widespread loss of smell due to COVID-19 will impact human-system interaction. Background COVID-19 reduces the sense of smell in people who contract the disease. Thus far, olfaction has received relatively little attention from human factors/ergonomics professionals. While smell is not a primary means of human-system communication, humans rely on smell in many important ways related to both quality of life and safety. Method We briefly review and synthesize the rapidly expanding literature through September 2020 on the topic of smell loss caused by COVID-19. We interpret findings in terms of their relevance to human factors/ergonomics researchers and practitioners. Results Since March 2020 dozens of articles have been published that report smell loss in COVID-19 patients. The prevalence and duration of COVID-19-related smell loss is still under investigation, but the available data suggest that it may leave many people with long-term deficits and distortions in sense of smell. Conclusion We suggest that the human factors/ergonomics community could become more aware of the importance of the sense of smell and focus on accommodating the increasing number of people with reduced olfactory performance. Application We present examples of how olfaction can augment human-system communication and how human factors/ergonomics professionals might accommodate people with olfactory dysfunction. While seemingly at odds, both of these goals can be achieved.

scholarly journals The human sense of smell

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Cantone ◽  
Filippo Ricciardiello ◽  
Rossella Cuofano ◽  
Giovanni Castagna ◽  
Flavia Oliva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Senses ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Olfactory Loss ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Smell Function ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Human Sense ◽  
Smell Loss

The sense of smell, like taste and trigeminal senses, is a chemical sense dedicated to the perception of chemical stimulations and to the generation of responses to them. Although, from an evolutionary perspective, the chemical senses are the oldest of our senses, our knowledge on the neural processing of the three chemical senses is still incomplete and has been considerably lagging behind that of our other senses. The current review aims to give an overview about human smell function. In particular we focus on the anatomy and physiology of the olfactory system, the epidemiology and the causes of olfactory loss, and on the clinical management of olfactory disorders stressing the impact of smell loss on the quality of life. Lastly, we emphasize the importance of olfaction in every day life. In our opinion, the impairment of sense of smell should be taken into serious consideration by the clinicians, as it could be the indicator of important systemic diseases or the cause of domestic accidents.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Smell Loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 491-496
Author(s):  
Joon Kon Kim ◽  
Doo Hee Han
Keyword(s):  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Nasal Symptoms ◽  
The World ◽  
Smell Loss

The world has been facing a tremendous threat for more than 1 year by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Because of the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, it is necessary to be aware of the characteristics and symptoms of COVID-19 in order to prevent the COVID-19 spread. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache and various types of pneumonia. Recently, smell loss has been extensively reported in COVID-19 patients. They experience this before other general symptoms or smell loss can be their only symptom. These types of patients may be neglected and a potential source for viral spread. Thus, screening tests of COVID-19 should be considered if patients have smell loss without any other nasal symptoms. Even though the recovery rate of smell loss in COVID-19 is relatively high, there are unmet needs for further studies including the mechanism of olfactory dysfunction, proper treatment and long-term recovery in COVID-19.

Disorders of Taste and Smell

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackson R. Vuncannon ◽  
Joshua M. Levy
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Personal Safety ◽  
Patient History ◽  
Taste Disturbance ◽  
Taste And Smell ◽  
Smell Loss ◽  
Olfactory Training

Among sensory abilities, smell and taste are the mechanisms through which humans sample chemicals in the environment, also known as chemoreception. These chemosensory abilities allow us to appreciate pleasurable environmental stimuli and provide critical information for the avoidance of potentially toxic compounds or environmental dangers. Correspondingly, dysfunction of these sensory abilities has repercussions not only for quality of life, but also personal safety. In this module, we will undertake an in-depth discussion of chemosensory dysfunction beginning with definitions of olfactory dysfunction and taste disturbance and associated epidemiology. Normal physiology and pathophysiology of chemosensory disorders are reviewed, along with associations of chemosensory disorders to other diseases of the head and neck. An overview of appropriate components of patient history and physical examination follows, with a discussion of indications for further testing. Finally, treatment modalities and patient outcomes for olfactory dysfunction and taste disturbance are highlighted. This review contains 3 figures, 8 tables and 76 references. Key Words: Olfactory Dysfunction, Gustatory Dysfunction, Chemosensation, Evaluation of smell loss, Evaluation of taste loss, Olfactory Training

scholarly journals Long-term impact of olfactory dysfunction on daily life

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice B. Auinger ◽  
Gerold Besser ◽  
David T. Liu ◽  
Bertold Renner ◽  
Christian A. Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
World Health ◽  
Subjective Rating ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Patient Counselling

Summary Background Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is common in the general population, affects the quality of life (QoL), and is suspected to cause depression. Long-term outcome data are lacking and there is a need to improve patient counselling regarding prognosis. We aimed to assess subjective long-term recovery rates, the QoL, and mood disturbance in a group of 65 patients, who were affected with OD. Methods Out of 325 patients treated for OD between 2003 and 2009  at a smell and taste clinic, 65 patients were included for a follow-up after an average of 8.6 years. A total of 28 patients answered questionnaires only and 37 patients were provided with an additional smell identification test. Among others, questionnaires included a short form of the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Beck’s depression inventory. Results In the long run, subjective improvement was stated in 33.8% of all patients, with the highest rate of 42.3% in patients with postinfectious OD. The subjective rating of olfactory function on a visual analogue scale was significantly higher at study follow-up compared to first clinical contact (median 1.25 vs. 4.5; U = 469.5, p = 0.001), as were mean identification scores (6.0 ± 3.0 vs. 8.0 ± 4.0, t(18) = 2.51, p = 0.021). The QoL in general was considered reduced in 40% of all patients at follow-up. Furthermore, participants exhibited only minor, if any, depressive symptoms. Conclusion Despite negative effects of OD on certain activities in daily life, such as cooking, detecting spoiled food, or personal hygiene, it seems that the patients included in this study adapted to the OD in the long-term. The current findings should aid clinicians in patient counselling.

The Human Sense of Olfaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (04) ◽  
pp. 396-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Hummel ◽  
Ute Walliczek-Dworschak
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Short Overview ◽  
Human Sense

AbstractThe sense of olfaction is important not only for the detection of potential dangers such as fire or spoilt food, but also for the quality of life of human beings. In this article, we review the characteristics of the sense of smell and give a short overview about possible olfactory dysfunctions and their therapy.

scholarly journals Olfactory dysfunction quantified by olfactometry in patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa Cervilla ◽  
Irene Gutierrez ◽  
Maria Romero ◽  
Javier Garcia-Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
P Value ◽  
Subjective Duration ◽  
Olfactory Loss ◽  
Olfactory Ability ◽  
Spanish Health

Abstract Objective: To quantify olfactory dysfunction by olfactometry in patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-Cov-2 infection.Methods: Patients from a particular Spanish health area with SARS-Cov-2 infection were recruited to study the loss of smell. Olfactometry was performed using the Sniffin Sticks test. The following clinical symtoms were studied: ENT symptoms related to infection, duration of sensorineural loss, subjective and objective score of loss of smell, and its temporal relationship with other systemic symptoms.Results: A total of 51 patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection completed the study. A total of 86.3% reported subjective loss of smell capacity. Objective loss of olfactory ability was quantified by olfactometry in 22% of patients. Statistical significance was demonstrated between the group of patients with anosmia/hyposmia and the Sniffin Sticks test (p-value: 0.013). The most frequent ENT symptoms in patients with quantified olfactory loss consisted of nasal obstruction, absence of rhinorrhea, sore throat, and ear pain. The subjective olfactory recovery rate prior to performing olfactometry was 64.3% of the sample. A total of 77% of patients in whom olfactory loss was quantified by olfactometry reported a subjective duration of more than 15 days.Conclusion: Olfactory dysfunction is an objective clinical finding in patients with SARS- Cov-2 infection. Its persistence has been demonstrated beyond the first month after infection. Their quantitative study should be continued to determine the recovery rate and its possible long-term sequelae, as well as treatments to improve the quality of life of these patients.

scholarly journals Six-month psychophysical evaluation of olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo ◽  
Anna Menegaldo ◽  
Cristoforo Fabbris ◽  
Giacomo Spinato ◽  
Daniele Borsetto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
University Of Pennsylvania ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Olfactory Test ◽  
Culturally Adapted ◽  
Psychophysical Evaluation ◽  
Normal Sense ◽  
Smell Identification

Abstract This study prospectively assessed the six-month prevalence of self-reported and psychophysically measured olfactory dysfunction in subjects with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Self-reported smell or taste impairment was prospectively evaluated by SNOT-22 at diagnosis, 4-week, 8-week, and 6-month. At 6 months from the diagnosis, psychophysical evaluation of olfactory function was also performed using the 34-item culturally adapted University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (CA-UPSIT). 145 completed both the 6-month subjective and psychophysical olfactory evaluation. According to CA-UPSIT, 87 subjects (60.0%) exhibited some smell dysfunction, with 10 patients being anosmic (6.9%) and 7 being severely microsmic (4.8%). At the time CA-UPSIT was administered, a weak correlation was observed between the self-reported alteration of sense of smell or taste and olfactory test scores (Spearman’s r=-0.26). Among 112 patients who self-reported normal sense of smell at last follow-up, CA-UPSIT revealed normal smell in 46 (41.1%), mild microsmia in 46 (41.1%), moderate microsmia in 11 (9.8%), severe microsmia in 3 (2.3%), and anosmia in 6 (5.4%) patients; however, of those patients self-reporting normal smell but who were found to have hypofunction on testing, 62 out of 66 had self-reported reduction in sense of smell or taste at an earlier time point. Despite most patients report a subjectively normal sense of smell, we observed a high percentage of persistent smell dysfunction at 6 months from the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with 11.7% of patients being anosmic or severely microsmic. These data highlight a significant long-term rate of smell alteration in patients with previous SARS-COV-2 infection.

scholarly journals 539 Post-Covid-19 Smell Clinic - Management of Patients With ‘Long Covid’

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Gopikrishna ◽  
J Rocke ◽  
M Chu ◽  
N Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Initial Data ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Clinic Management ◽  
Smell Test ◽  
Infection Parameters ◽  
Set Up

Abstract Introduction Olfactory dysfunction following COVID-19 infection is a prevalent issue in the post-viral phase of illness. Around 50% of patient’s self-report loss of sense of smell with COVID-19. Approximately 10% of these patients report no recovery in sense of smell at 4-6 weeks after onset. Patients with olfactory dysfunction often describe life as living in 2D, with lasting effects on eating habits and relationships. The aim of this project was to establish a novel ‘Post-Covid-19 smell clinic’ for patients, which monitored any changes relating to olfactory dysfunction and to provide advice on management of the condition for these patients with “Long-Covid”. Method The ‘smell clinic’ was set up based on BRS guidelines. Patients were asked to carry out the ‘UPSIT’ smell test and eODQ questionnaire. Patients were then advised to carry out ‘smell retraining’ for 4 months and pointed to appropriate resources. We analysed patients’ presentations to identify patterns that may identify patients who are likely to suffer long term olfactory dysfunction following Covid-19 infection. Parameters including prevalence of parosmia, cacosmia, dysgeusia, demographics were collected. Results Initial data, from 20 patients, showed 40% experienced parosmia and 40% had associated rhinological symptoms such as rhinorrhoea. The range UPSIT score: 22-34, eODQ score: 42-151. Conclusions Our initial analysis of the clinic identified symptoms range from anosmia, parosmia and loss of flavour. Parosmia patients experienced this in relation to smells such as excrement and coffee. Future implications involve analysing the possible benefits of ‘smell retraining’ after repeating UPSIT and the eODQ score

scholarly journals High prevalence of long-term psychophysical olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo ◽  
Anna Menegaldo ◽  
Cristoforo Fabbris ◽  
Giacomo Spinato ◽  
Daniele Borsetto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
University Of Pennsylvania ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Olfactory Test ◽  
Culturally Adapted ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Psychophysical Evaluation ◽  
Normal Sense

This study prospectively assessed the long-term prevalence of self-reported and psychophysically measured olfactory dysfunction in subjects with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Self-reported smell or taste impairment was prospectively evaluated by SNOT-22 at diagnosis, 4-week, 8-week, and 6-month. At 6 months from the diagnosis, psychophysical evaluation of olfactory function was also performed using the 34-item culturally adapted University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (CA-UPSIT). 145 completed both the 6-month subjective and psychophysical olfactory evaluation. According to CA-UPSIT, 87 subjects (60.0%) exhibited some smell dysfunction, with 54 (37.2) being mildly microsmic, 16 (11.0%) moderately microsmic, 7 (4.8%) severely microsmic, and 10 patients (6.9%) being anosmic. At the time CA-UPSIT was administered, a weak correlation was observed between the self-reported alteration of sense of smell or taste and olfactory test scores (Spearman r=-0.26). Among 112 patients who self-reported normal sense of smell at last follow-up, CA-UPSIT revealed normal smell in 46 (41.1%), mild microsmia in 46 (41.1%), moderate microsmia in 11 (9.8%), severe microsmia in 3 (2.3%), and anosmia in 6 (5.4%) patients; however, of those patients self-reporting normal smell but who were found to have hypofunction on testing, 62 out of 66 had self-reported reduction in sense of smell or taste at an earlier time point. Despite most patients report a subjectively normal sense of smell, we observed a high percentage of persistent smell dysfunction at 6 months from the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with 11.7% of patients being anosmic or severely microsmic. These data highlight a significant long-term rate of smell alteration in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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