Background The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self‐reported chemosensory dysfunction in a study cohort of subjects who developed a mild‐to‐moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in the period from January 17, 2022, to February 4, 2022 (Omicron proxy period) and compared that with a historical series of patients testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection between March and April, 2020 (comparator period). Methods Prospective study based on the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Tool (SNOT‐22), item “sense of smell or taste” and additional outcomes. Results Patients’ characteristics and clinical presentations of COVID‐19 were evaluated and compared in 779 patients, 338 of the study cohort and 441 of the historical series. The prevalence of self‐reported chemosensory dysfunction during the proxy Omicron period (32.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 27.6–37.8) was significantly lower from that during the comparator period (66.9%; 95% CI, 62.3–71.3) ( p < 0.001). Nearly one‐quarter of patients (24.6%; 95% CI, 20.1–29.5) reported an altered sense of smell during the proxy Omicron period compared to 62.6% (95% CI, 57.9–67.1) during the comparator period ( p < 0.001). Similarly, the prevalence of an altered sense of taste dropped to 26.9% (95% CI, 22.3–32.0) during the proxy Omicron period from 57.4% (95% CI, 52.6–62.0) during the comparator period ( p < 0.001). The severity of chemosensory dysfunction was lower in the proxy Omicron period compared to the comparator period ( p < 0.001). Conclusion The prevalence and the severity of COVID‐19–associated smell and taste dysfunction has dropped significantly with the advent of the Omicron variant but it still remains above 30%.

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Background: The independent association between hepatic steatosis and rheumatoid arthritis is poorly defined. Methods: The presence of moderate to severe steatosis was assessed, using liver ultrasonography, in 364 consecutive non-diabetic subjects (223 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 141 age- and sex-matched healthy controls). Adjusted multiple regression analysis was performed to explore the association between rheumatoid arthritis and moderate to severe steatosis in the overall sample and identify independent risk factors in the rheumatoid arthritis subgroup. Results: The prevalence of moderate to severe steatosis in the overall sample was 31.3%, with a significantly higher prevalence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than healthy controls (38.7% versus 19.7%, p < 0.0001). After adjustment for sex, age, cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, waist, hypertension and smoke, rheumatoid arthritis remained significantly associated with moderate to severe steatosis [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.24 (1.31, 3.84); p = 0.003]. In the rheumatoid arthritis group, male sex, higher body mass index, higher triglycerides concentrations and higher cumulative dosage of methotrexate [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.11 (1.01, 1.23); p = 0.026] were significantly associated with moderate to severe steatosis, while systemic inflammation, disease activity, use of steroids and biologics were not. Conclusion: Rheumatoid arthritis is independently associated with moderate to severe steatosis, with male sex, higher body mass index and cumulative dose of methotrexate being predisposing factors. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to investigate the effect of steatosis on liver outcomes in the rheumatoid arthritis population.

Background. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction in a study cohort of subjects who developed a mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in the period from January 17, 2022 to February 4, 2022 (Omicron proxy period) and compared that with a historical series of patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection between March and April, 2020 (comparator period). Methods. Prospective study based on the sinonasal outcome tool 22 (SNOT-22), item sense of smell or taste and additional outcomes. Results. Patients characteristics and clinical presentations of COVID-19 were evaluated and compared in 779 patients, 338 of the study cohort and 441 of the historical series. The prevalence of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction during the proxy Omicron period (32.5%; 95% CI, 27.6-37.8) was significantly lower from that during the comparator period (66.9%; 95% CI, 62.3-71.3) (p<.001). 24.6% (95% CI, 20.1-29.5) of patients reported an altered sense of smell during the proxy Omicron period compared to 62.6% (95% CI, 57.9-67.1) during the comparator period (p<.001). Similarly, the prevalence of an altered sense of taste dropped from 57.4% (95% CI, 52.6-62.0) during the comparator period to 26.9% (95% CI, 22.3-32.0) during the proxy Omicron period (p<.001). The severity of chemosensory dysfunction was lower in proxy Omicron period compared to comparator period (p<.001). Conclusions. The prevalence and the severity of COVID-19 associated smell and taste dysfunction has dropped significantly with the advent of the Omicron variant.

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