Anosmia in COVID-19: Investigating the Role of Paranasal Sinus Mucosal Thickening

Abstract

Background Anosmia has been identified as a distinctive symptom of COVID-19, leading to hypotheses about its pathophysiological underpinnings, including the potential role of paranasal sinus mucosal thickening. Objective To investigate the association between paranasal sinus mucosal thickening and anosmia in COVID-19 patients, providing insights into the complex clinical manifestations of the disease. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed CT paranasal sinus from 270 confirmed COVID-19 patients, divided into those with anosmia (n = 23, 8.52%) and those without anosmia (n = 247, 91.48%). Statistical analysis, including independent t-tests, was employed to compare mucosal thickening between the groups. Results The study found an average mucosal thickening of 0.03 in patients with anosmia and 0.02 in those without, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.480, which is greater than 0.05). The findings suggest that mucosal thickening in the paranasal sinuses does not serve as a definitive correlate of anosmia among COVID-19 patients. Conclusion The absence of a significant correlation between paranasal sinus mucosal thickening and anosmia in COVID-19 patients indicates that the pathophysiology of anosmia may involve factors beyond anatomical changes, including direct viral effects and systemic inflammatory responses.