Title Retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients, comparing different SARS-CoV-2 variants regarding anosmia
Title (croatian) Retrospektivna analiza u hospitaliziranih pacijenta uspoređujući različte varijante virusa SARS-CoV-2 u svezi sa simptomom anosmije
Author Silvio Heinig
Mentor Johannes Brachmann (mentor)
Committee member Renata Pecotić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
Committee member Katarina Vukojević (član povjerenstva)
Committee member Georg Heinrich Breuer (član povjerenstva)
Granter University of Split School of Medicine Split
Defense date and country 2023-07-27, Croatia
Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE Clinical Medical Sciences Internal Medicine
Abstract Objectives: The objective of this cross-sectional survey study was to investigate the
prevalence, severity, and duration of post-COVID symptoms, with a specific focus on olfactory
dysfunction. The study aimed to compare different virus variants of concern and explore
potential associations between modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors and the prevalence
or severity of symptoms.
Materials and Methods: The study involved former hospitalized patients at Coburg
REGIOMED hospital, with data collected through a voluntary and anonymous survey.
Participants were asked to provide informed consent. A comprehensive questionnaire collected
demographic and health data related to their COVID-19 infection. Data collection was
conducted through an online platform and remained accessible from September 2022 to
December 2022. The dataset included survey responses supplemented with data from clinical
records.
Results: The study population consisted of 1,025 participants, with a relatively balanced
representation of males and females. The mean age for the entire population was 70.09 years.
Significant variations in age were observed across different phases of the study. From the initial
study population, 147 individuals participated in the survey, with a response rate of 14.3%. The
demographics of the respondents were generally younger compared to non-respondents.
Regarding olfactory dysfunction, there was no significant association between gender
and the sense of smell. Interestingly, we discovered a correlation between the virus variant and
the occurrence of olfactory dysfunction. The prevalence of this dysfunction decreased as we
moved from the wild-type variant to the omicron variant. The duration of olfactory dysfunction
did not show a significant association with gender or the phase of COVID-19. However, there
was a trend indicating that individuals without olfactory dysfunction tended to be older on
average. Vaccination status showed a potential association with olfactory dysfunction, with a
higher percentage of individuals without dysfunction in the vaccinated group. Smoking status
and alcohol consumption did not significantly influence olfactory dysfunction.
There was a significant association between olfactory dysfunction and gustatory
dysfunction. Associations were also found between olfactory dysfunction and concurrent
symptoms such as headache, fatigue and concentration difficulties.
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Conclusion: The study provided insights into the prevalence, severity, and duration of postCOVID symptoms, particularly olfactory dysfunction. The findings suggested potential
associations between vaccination status, age, and the occurrence of olfactory dysfunction.
However, further investigation with larger sample sizes and consideration of additional factors
is necessary to establish conclusive relationships. The study highlighted the need for continued
research on post-COVID complications to enhance our understanding of long-term effects and
potential influencing factors.
Abstract (croatian) Ciljevi: Cilj ovog presječnog istraživanja bilo je istražiti učestalost, ozbiljnost i trajanje
simptoma nakon COVID-a, s posebnim fokusom na disfunkciju njuha. Istraživanje je imalo za
cilj usporediti različite varijante zabrinutosti virusa te istražiti moguće povezanosti između
promjenjivih i nepromjenjivih čimbenika rizika te učestalosti ili ozbiljnosti simptoma.
Ispitanici i postupci: Istraživanje je uključilo bivše hospitalizirane pacijente u bolnici Coburg
REGIOMED, a podaci su prikupljeni putem dobrovoljne i anonimne ankete. Sudionici su
zamoljeni da daju informirani pristanak. Opsežan upitnik prikupljao je demografske i
zdravstvene podatke vezane uz njihovu COVID-19 infekciju. Prikupljanje podataka provodilo
se putem online platforme i ostalo je dostupno od rujna 2022. do prosinca 2022. Skup podataka
uključivao je odgovore na anketu nadopunjene podacima iz kliničke dokumentacije.
Rezultati: Istraživana populacija sastojala se od 1.025 sudionika, s relativno izbalansiranom
zastupljenošću muškaraca i žena. Prosječna dob za cijelu populaciju bila je 70,09 godina.
Primijećene su značajne varijacije u dobi između različitih faza istraživanja. Od početne
populacije za istraživanje, 147 osoba je sudjelovalo u anketi, s stopom odgovora od 14,3%.
Demografski podaci ispitanika bili su općenito mlađi u usporedbi s osobama koje nisu
odgovorile.
U vezi s disfunkcijom njuha, nije bilo značajne povezanosti između spola i osjetila
mirisa. Zanimljivo, otkrivena je korelacija između varijante virusa i pojave disfunkcije njuha.
Učestalost ove disfunkcije smanjivala se kako smo prelazili s divlje varijante na omikron
varijantu. Trajanje disfunkcije njuha nije pokazalo značajnu povezanost s spolom ili fazom
COVID-19. Međutim, postojao je trend koji ukazuje da su osobe bez disfunkcije njuha na
prosjeku bile starije. Status cijepljenja pokazao je potencijalnu povezanost s disfunkcijom
njuha, s većim postotkom osoba bez disfunkcije u cijepljenoj skupini. Status pušenja i
konzumacija alkohola nisu značajno utjecali na disfunkciju njuha.
Postojala je značajna povezanost između disfunkcije njuha i disfunkcije okusa.
Također su pronađene veze između disfunkcije njuha i istovremenih simptoma poput
glavobolje, umora i poteškoća s koncentracijom.
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Zaključak: Istraživanje je pružilo uvid u učestalost, ozbiljnost i trajanje simptoma nakon
COVID-a, posebno disfunkcije njuha. Rezultati su ukazivali na potencijalne veze između
statusa cijepljenja, dobi i pojave disfunkcije njuha. Međutim, daljnje istraživanje s većim
uzorcima i uzimanjem u obzir dodatnih čimbenika je potrebno kako bi se uspostavile zaključne
veze. Istraživanje je istaknulo potrebu za kontinuiranim istraživanjem post-COVID
komplikacija kako bi se poboljšalo naše razumijevanje dugoročnih učinaka i potencijalnih
čimbenika koji utječu.
Keywords
COVID-19
Long COVID
Variants of SARS-CoV-2
Olfactory Dysfunction
Anosmia
Keywords (croatian)
COVID 19
dugi COVID
varijante SARS-CoV-2
olfaktivna disfunkcija
anosmija
Language english
URN:NBN urn:nbn:hr:171:439809
Study programme Title: Medical Studies in English Study programme type: university Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica medicine (doktor/doktorica medicine)
Type of resource Text
File origin Born digital
Access conditions Open access
Terms of use
Created on 2023-07-25 11:03:57