Self-reported loss of smell and taste in SARS-CoV-2 patients: primary care data to guide future early detection strategies

Abstract

The early identification of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary care is of outmost importance in the current pandemia. We conducted a preliminary study involving 816 primary care patients undergoing RT-PCR testing for a suspicion of COVID-19. We examined the association between smell or taste disorders and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, and computed the performance of these symptoms in predicting a positive test. Smell or taste disorders were significantly associated with positive RT-PCR with an adjusted OR=6.3 (95%CI 5.2-7.5). Once confinement measures are lifted, our data could further inform triage and early identification of new clusters of cases through primary care.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Taste Disorders in Cases of COVID‐19: A Meta‐analysis of 29,349 Patients

“…This meta‐analysis is the first, to our knowledge, to comprehensively investigate the prevalence of taste disorders in patients with COVID‐19. This meta‐analysis was conducted with a substantial number of studies 3,4,8–10,12,19,21,34–37,41–87 and hence included a considerable number of participants, resulting in more robust estimates. The majority of the included studies confirmed COVID‐19 cases with the RT‐PCR technique, which strengthens our findings.…”

Anosmia in COVID-19: Underlying Mechanisms and Assessment of an Olfactory Route to Brain Infection

“…Since many otherwise asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 have reductions in smell and/or taste, and since such an impairment is one of the earliest symptoms, it has been suggested that olfactory/gustatory deficits could be used as a valuable screening tool and for a preliminary diagnosis ( Bénézit and others 2020 ; Hopkins and others 2020 ; Parma and others 2020 ; Sedaghat and others 2020 ; Tong and others 2020 ; Tudrej and others 2020 ; Yan and others 2020 ). Such a screening is relatively cheap, and very fast, and could be implemented together with a subsequent gene- or protein-based test for viral particles.…”

Is a COVID-19 prediction model based on symptom tracking through an app applicable in primary care?

“…Real-time symptom collection through an app seems to be an attractive method to screen for potential COVID-19 and Menni et al’s approach confirms the crucial value of specific symptoms, such as loss of smell and taste in the diagnosis of this infection ( 3–5 ). Yet the score they propose should not be applied as such for primary care patients as it does not appear to perform well in this population.…”

“…We compared the main features of the population involved in Menni et al’s study, and the performance of their score, with data from a cross-sectional study conducted between 24 March and 29 April 2020 in Lyon (France) involving nearly 1200 primary care patients undergoing RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 suspicion ( Table 1 ) ( 3 ).…”

“…These authors highlight that the self-report is a major limitation of their study. In our study, most patients were referred by their GP because they were complaining of COVID-like symptoms or else they were self-referred health professionals ( 3 ). As we have limited information about the reasons for testing in Menni et al’s study, it is difficult to compare but it is likely that our population was a more symptomatic population due to the GPs’ pre-testing triage.…”