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

Imene Kacem; Mohamed Kahloul; Amel Ghenim; Mohamed Ajmi; Asma Chouchane; Asma Aloui; Wael Khalefa; Olfa El Maalel; Maher Maoua; Walid Naija; Nejib Mrizak; Kalboussi Houda

doi:10.2174/0127722708249126231006061438

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

Recent Adv Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2023 Oct 20. doi: 10.2174/0127722708249126231006061438. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Imene Kacem^{1

2}, Mohamed Kahloul^{1

3}, Amel Ghenim^{1

2}, Mohamed Ajmi¹, Asma Chouchane^{1

2}, Asma Aloui^{1

2}, Wael Khalefa⁴, Olfa El Maalel^{1

2}, Maher Maoua^{1

2}, Walid Naija^{1

3}, Nejib Mrizak^{1

2}, Kalboussi Houda^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia.
² Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
³ Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia.
⁴ Family and Community Medicine Department, Family and community Medecine Sousse Tunisia.

PMID: 37867280
DOI: 10.2174/0127722708249126231006061438

Abstract

Background: 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.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of OD in healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 and to identify its associated factors.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Olfactory dysfunction; associated factors; epidemiology; prevention.