Prevalencia de disfunción olfatoria y gustativa en pacientes con COVID-19. Distrito 03D01

Abstract

Background: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, olfactory and gustatory dysfunction has been evidenced as symptomatology, being a challenge to understand the influence of infection in these processes. Objective: To determine the prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 treated at health centers in the 03D01 District. Materials and Methods: Quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study with the entire population that attended from March to May 2023 in the 03D01 District, aged 19 to 64 years with voluntary participation fulfilling selection criteria; the sample consisted of 421 patients who responded to a survey used by Gomez et al., validating it by Cronbach's Alpha 0.87. Bioethical aspects were respected and complied with. Results. 87.89% presented COVID-19 with a greater contagion in 2022; olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions 54.32%, with a predominance of a total loss of this symptomatology. The most affected group was adults aged 30-39 years, 37.30% surveyed stated that the dysfunctions appeared together with other symptoms, and 37.03% commented that they had recovered after a few days; as for the association between dysfunctions and the variables sex and age, statistical significance was found in the male sex. Conclusions: There was a significant number of adults with olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions, mainly women were affected, and the statistical significance was for the male group; young adults were the most affected, and the variables rhinorrhea and disorders were manifested in a significant group of respondents.