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PloS One 2023The life quality of about two-thirds of patients with COVID-19 is affected by related olfactory dysfunctions. The negative impact of olfactory dysfunction ranged from...
Effect of any form of steroids in comparison with that of other medications on the duration of olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review of randomized trials and quasi-experimental studies.
BACKGROUND
The life quality of about two-thirds of patients with COVID-19 is affected by related olfactory dysfunctions. The negative impact of olfactory dysfunction ranged from the decreased pleasure of eating to impaired quality of life. This research aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of corticosteroid treatments by comparing that to other currently available treatments and interventions.
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist's 27-point checklist was used to conduct this review. PubMed (Public/Publisher MEDLINE), PubMed Central and EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database) databases were conveniently selected and Boolean search commands were used for a comprehensive literature search. Five core search terms were "effects of treatments", " COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction", "corticosteroids", "treatments" and "interventions". The reporting qualities of the included studies were appraised using JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) appraisal tools. The characteristics of the 21 experimental studies with a total sample (of 130,550) were aggregated using frequencies and percentages and presented descriptively. The main interventions and their effects on the duration of the COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction were narratively analyzed.
RESULTS
Among patients with COVID-19, the normal functions of the olfactory lobe were about 23 days earlier to gain with the treatments of fluticasone and triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray compared with that of mometasone furoate nasal spray and oral corticosteroid. The smell loss duration was reduced by fluticasone and triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray 9 days earlier than the inflawell syrup and 16 days earlier than the lavender syrup. The nasal spray of corticosteroids ended the COVID-19-related smell loss symptoms 2 days earlier than the zinc supplementation, about 47 days earlier than carbamazepine treatment and was more effective than palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and luteolin and omega-3 supplementations and olfactory training. Treatment with oral corticosteroid plus olfactory training significantly improved Threshold, Discrimination and Identification (TDI) scores compared with olfactory training alone. A full dose of the COVID-19 vaccination was not uncertain to reduce the COVID-19-related smell loss duration.
CONCLUSION
Corticosteroid treatment is effective in reducing the duration of COVID-19-related smell loss and olfactory training, the basic, essential and effective intervention, should be used as a combination therapy.
Topics: Humans; Nasal Sprays; Anosmia; Quality of Life; Triamcinolone Acetonide; COVID-19; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Steroids; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Fluticasone
PubMed: 37531338
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288285 -
Chemical Senses Jan 2023
Meta-Analysis
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Ageusia; SARS-CoV-2; Taste Disorders; Olfaction Disorders; Taste
PubMed: 37503715
DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjad012 -
Neurosurgical Review Jul 2023Olfactory groove meningiomas (OGM) are a skull base neoplasm that represents between 8 and 13% of all intracranial meningiomas. Approach selection focuses on achieving... (Review)
Review
Olfactory groove meningiomas (OGM) are a skull base neoplasm that represents between 8 and 13% of all intracranial meningiomas. Approach selection focuses on achieving frontal lobe decompression, gross total resection and vision preservation. Recently, there has been a focus on olfaction and considering its preservation as a quality-of-life outcome measure. An electronic search of the databases Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane library databases was performed and data extracted according 2020 Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Six articles were selected for inclusion mainly based due to reporting quantitative outcomes for olfaction assessed by a smell identification test (e.g. sniffin' sticks). Objective olfaction preservation can be achieved with a variety of surgical approaches. More research which includes objective assessment of olfactory function and ideally as well QoL outcome measures is needed to further optimize the treatment pathways in OGM patients.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Smell; Meningeal Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Olfaction Disorders
PubMed: 37500988
DOI: 10.1007/s10143-023-02096-z -
Rhinology Dec 2023Identification of perioperative risk factors for recurrent nasal polyps (RNPs) is important for selection of further treatment and determination of appropriate follow-up... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Identification of perioperative risk factors for recurrent nasal polyps (RNPs) is important for selection of further treatment and determination of appropriate follow-up period. However, the relative prognostic significance of these risk factors has not been investigated.
METHODOLOGY
We compared the nasal symptoms, endoscopic polyp and Lund-Mackey computed tomography scores, and the laboratory and pathological findings of RNP and non-RNP patients. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.
RESULTS
Patients with poor nasal symptom scores and olfactory dysfunctions and high Lund-Mackey computed tomography scores were at higher risk of postoperative RNPs, as were those with allergic conditions and elevated tissue and serum eosinophil levels. The tissue neutrophil counts/percentages were significantly lower in the RNP than the other group. The tissue eosinophil level was of higher diagnostic utility than the serum eosinophil level. The RNP diagnostic odds ratio afforded by the tissue eosinophil count or percentage was 54.1247. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.936. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.8809 and 0.8834, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The tissue eosinophil level reliably predicts RNP after endoscopic sinus surgery.
Topics: Humans; Nasal Polyps; Rhinitis; Sinusitis; Eosinophils; Smell; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 37453133
DOI: 10.4193/Rhin23.136 -
Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery :... Dec 2023Olfactory disorders are well-studied in the adult population, however, there is a paucity of literature characterizing olfactory dysfunction in pediatric patients. The... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Olfactory disorders are well-studied in the adult population, however, there is a paucity of literature characterizing olfactory dysfunction in pediatric patients. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify known causes of olfactory loss in pediatric populations, clarify the extent of use and validity of smell tests, and summarize current therapies for olfactory loss.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science.
REVIEW METHODS
Databases were systematically searched in September 2020. Two independent reviewers conducted the title and abstract screen, followed by review of full-texts for inclusion based on preset inclusion and exclusion criteria. Extracted data included study type, age/age-range of participants, gender, radiological evidence of olfactory dysfunction, types and results of smell tests used, etiology of olfactory loss, and therapies employed for olfactory loss.
RESULTS
A total of 103 articles (n = 1654) were eligible for final data extraction. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was used most frequently for smell testing (21% of studies). In total, 45 causes of olfactory dysfunction have been elucidated by this study: 22 congenital and 23 acquired. Few therapies were described, and all were specific to the etiology of olfactory loss.
CONCLUSION
Olfactory dysfunction has a wide range of etiologies in the pediatric population, and clinicians should have a diagnostic algorithm for how to identify a cause should they encounter it in practice. If no etiology can be identified, education around safety should be provided to both the patient and their caregivers.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Child; Smell; Olfaction Disorders; Anosmia
PubMed: 37449420
DOI: 10.1002/ohn.415 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2023The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older adults increasingly is being discussed in the literature on Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS). Remote digital...
INTRODUCTION
The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older adults increasingly is being discussed in the literature on Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS). Remote digital Assessments for Preclinical AD (RAPAs) are becoming more important in screening for early AD, and should always be available for PACS patients, especially for patients at risk of AD. This systematic review examines the potential for using RAPA to identify impairments in PACS patients, scrutinizes the supporting evidence, and describes the recommendations of experts regarding their use.
METHODS
We conducted a thorough search using the PubMed and Embase databases. Systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis), narrative reviews, and observational studies that assessed patients with PACS on specific RAPAs were included. The RAPAs that were identified looked for impairments in olfactory, eye-tracking, graphical, speech and language, central auditory, or spatial navigation abilities. The recommendations' final grades were determined by evaluating the strength of the evidence and by having a consensus discussion about the results of the Delphi rounds among an international Delphi consensus panel called IMPACT, sponsored by the French National Research Agency. The consensus panel included 11 international experts from France, Switzerland, and Canada.
RESULTS
Based on the available evidence, olfaction is the most long-lasting impairment found in PACS patients. However, while olfaction is the most prevalent impairment, expert consensus statements recommend that AD olfactory screening should not be used on patients with a history of PACS at this point in time. Experts recommend that olfactory screenings can only be recommended once those under study have reported full recovery. This is particularly important for the deployment of the olfactory identification subdimension. The expert assessment that more long-term studies are needed after a period of full recovery, suggests that this consensus statement requires an update in a few years.
CONCLUSION
Based on available evidence, olfaction could be long-lasting in PACS patients. However, according to expert consensus statements, AD olfactory screening is not recommended for patients with a history of PACS until complete recovery has been confirmed in the literature, particularly for the identification sub-dimension. This consensus statement may require an update in a few years.
PubMed: 37416323
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1206123 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023There is a lack of overview of the tools used to assess qualitative olfactory dysfunction, including parosmia and phantosmia, following COVID-19 illness. This could have...
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of overview of the tools used to assess qualitative olfactory dysfunction, including parosmia and phantosmia, following COVID-19 illness. This could have an impact on the diagnosis and treatment offered to patients. Additionally, the formulations of symptoms are inconsistent and often unclear, and consensus around the wording of questions and responses is needed.
AIM OF STUDY
The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of tools used to assess qualitative olfactory dysfunction after COVID-19, in addition to addressing the content validity (i.e., item and response formulations) of these tools.
METHODS
MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE were searched 5 of August 2022 and updated on the 25 of April 2023 to identify studies that assess qualitative olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. Primary outcomes were the tool used (i.e., questionnaire or objective test) and item and response formulations. Secondary outcomes included psychometric properties, study design, and demographic variables.
RESULTS
The assessment of qualitative olfactory dysfunction is characterized by heterogeneity, inconsistency, and lack of validated tools to determine the presence and degree of symptoms. Several tools with overlapping and distinct features were identified in this review, of which some were thorough and detailed, while others were merely assessing the presence of symptoms as a binary measure. Item and response formulations are also inconsistent and often used interchangeably, which may lead to confusion, incorrect diagnoses, and inappropriate methods for solving the problem.
CONCLUSIONS
There is an unmet need for a reliable and validated tool for assessing qualitative olfactory dysfunction, preferably one that also captures quantitative olfactory issues (i.e., loss of smell), to ensure time-effective and specific assessment of the ability to smell. A consensus around the formulation of items and response options is also important to increase the understanding of the problem, both for clinicians, researchers, and the patient, and ultimately to provide the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
REGISTRATION AND PROTOCOL
The URL is https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=351621. A preregistered protocol was submitted and accepted (12.09.22) in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) with the registration number CRD42022351621.
PubMed: 37408960
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1190994 -
Annals of Epidemiology Sep 2023To complement conventional testing methods for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infections, dogs' olfactory capability for true real-time detection... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To complement conventional testing methods for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infections, dogs' olfactory capability for true real-time detection has been investigated worldwide. Diseases produce specific scents in affected individuals via volatile organic compounds. This systematic review evaluates the current evidence for canine olfaction as a reliable coronavirus disease 2019 screening tool.
METHODS
Two independent study quality assessment tools were used: the QUADAS-2 tool for the evaluation of laboratory tests' diagnostic accuracy, designed for systematic reviews, and a general evaluation tool for canine detection studies, adapted to medical detection. Various study design, sample, dog, and olfactory training features were considered as potential confounding factors.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven studies from 15 countries were evaluated. Respectively, four and six studies had a low risk of bias and high quality: the four QUADAS-2 nonbiased studies resulted in ranges of 81%-97% sensitivity and 91%-100% specificity. The six high-quality studies, according to the general evaluation system, revealed ranges of 82%-97% sensitivity and 83%-100% specificity. The other studies contained high bias risks and applicability and/or quality concerns.
CONCLUSIONS
Standardization and certification procedures as used for canine explosives detection are needed for medical detection dogs for the optimal and structured usage of their undoubtful potential.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Sensitivity and Specificity; Smell; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 37209927
DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.05.002 -
International Forum of Allergy &... Nov 2023Many studies have identified a higher degree of Olfactory Dysfunction (OD) in Black patients compared to White patients. This study aims to analyze olfactory outcomes... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Many studies have identified a higher degree of Olfactory Dysfunction (OD) in Black patients compared to White patients. This study aims to analyze olfactory outcomes in different races.
METHODS
The PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched from inception to September 5, 2022, for English-language articles documenting self-reported and psychophysical OD stratified by race. A meta-analysis of proportions, comparison of weighted proportions, and comparison of means were performed in MedCalc 20.218. In the quantitative analysis, 79,297 patients were included, comprising 79.3% Whites, 16.1% Blacks, and 4.6% Hispanics.
RESULTS
A total of 14 studies were meta-analyzed. The prevalence of self-reported OD in Hispanic, White, and Black patients was 19.5% (95% CI, 16.6% to 22.6%), 17.2% (95% CI, 10.5% to 25.0%), and 13.9% (95% CI, 9.3% to 19.2%), respectively (p < 0.0007). The prevalence of psychophysical OD in Black, White, and Hispanic patients was 30.3% (95% CI, 24.2% to 36.9%), 24.2% (95% CI, 20.1% to 28.5%), and 18.4% (95% CI, 16.3% to 20.7%), respectively (p < 0.0001). Blacks reported a greater extent of unrecognized OD compared to Whites, with a difference of 16.5% (95% CI, 15.0% to 17.9%) versus 5.8% (95% CI, 3.4% to 8.0%), respectively (p < 0.0001). Hispanic rates of self-reported OD and psychophysical OD were not statistically different.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that Blacks have the highest rate of psychophysical OD and are more likely to underreport their awareness compared to Whites.
PubMed: 37183309
DOI: 10.1002/alr.23184 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2023Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is an inflammatory disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses characterized by the presence of nasal polyps. The... (Review)
Review
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is an inflammatory disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses characterized by the presence of nasal polyps. The symptoms produced by the presence of nasal polyps such as nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, facial pain, headache, and loss of smell cause a worsening in the quality of life of patients. The source of the nasal polyps remains unclear, although it seems to be due to a chronic inflammation process in the sinonasal mucosa. Fibroblasts, the main cells in connective tissue, are intimately involved in the inflammation processes of various diseases; to this end, we carried out a systematic review to evaluate their inflammatory role in nasal polyps. Thus, we evaluated the main cytokines produced by nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts (NPDF) to assess their involvement in the production of nasal polyps and their involvement in different inflammatory pathways. The results of the review highlight the inflammatory role of NPDF through the secretion of various cytokines involved in the T1, T2, and T3 inflammatory pathways, as well as the ability of NPDF to be stimulated by a multitude of substances. With these findings, the fibroblast is positioned as a new potential therapeutic target in the treatment of CRSwNP.
PubMed: 37176721
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12093280