Hypoxia, Taste, and Smell Loss in Severe Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Correlation with HRCT Chest Involvement

Background & Objective: An infectious disease called coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is brought on by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most adult COVID-19 infections resulted in gustatory or olfactory impairment. The purpose of this research is to ascertain the frequency of taste and smell impairments in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the Dr. Hemn Teaching Hospital in Sulaimani, Iraq, from May 2021 to January 2022. This study included the selection and enrollment of 100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (50 males and 50 females). We assessed if they have preserved ability to taste and smell as well as tested for O2 saturation level. Results: A total of 100 patients who were enrolled in the study male 50%, and female 50 patients. The mean age was 54.5 ± 16.5 years. Ninety of the patients had significant COVID-19, according to their High-Resolution CT scan. Thirty patients experienced taste loss and forty-three patients claimed loss of smell. Although 23 patients have both taste and smell loss, they also have hypoxia. Severe hypoxia was established by about 25.7% of those with taste perception.Patients with smell and taste loss were more frequently found to have positive RT-PCR results, 41(95.3%) and 29(96.7%), respectively (p-value <0.001). High resolution CT-scan scan examination of the patients showed that 90 (90%) patients had the severe form of COVID-19. Conclusion: The frequencies of taste and/or smell impairment were lower in severely hospitalized individuals. Moreover, the chemosensory deficits are less common in patients who experience acute hypoxia.