Olfactory Training in Post-COVID-19 Persistent Olfactory Disorders: Value Normalization for Threshold but Not Identification.
Clair Vandersteen, Magali Payne, Louise-Émilie Dumas, Élisa Cancian, Alexandra Plonka, Grégoire D'Andréa, David Chirio, Élisa Demonchy, Karine Risso, Florence Askenazy-Gittard, Charles Savoldelli, Nicolas Guevara, Philippe Robert, Laurent Castillo, Valeria Manera, Auriane Gros
Author Information
Clair Vandersteen: Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 31 Avenue de Valombrose, 06100 Nice, France. ORCID
Magali Payne: Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, 06100 Nice, France.
Louise-Émilie Dumas: Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, 06100 Nice, France.
Élisa Cancian: Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 31 Avenue de Valombrose, 06100 Nice, France.
Alexandra Plonka: Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, 06100 Nice, France. ORCID
Grégoire D'Andréa: Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 31 Avenue de Valombrose, 06100 Nice, France. ORCID
David Chirio: Département de Médecine Infectiologique, Hôpital de l'archet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 151 Route de Saint-Antoine, 06200 Nice, France.
Élisa Demonchy: Département de Médecine Infectiologique, Hôpital de l'archet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 151 Route de Saint-Antoine, 06200 Nice, France.
Karine Risso: Département de Médecine Infectiologique, Hôpital de l'archet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 151 Route de Saint-Antoine, 06200 Nice, France.
Florence Askenazy-Gittard: Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, 06100 Nice, France.
Charles Savoldelli: Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 31 Avenue de Valombrose, 06100 Nice, France.
Nicolas Guevara: Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 31 Avenue de Valombrose, 06100 Nice, France. ORCID
Philippe Robert: Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, 06100 Nice, France. ORCID
Laurent Castillo: Institut Universitaire de la Face et du Cou, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université Côte d'Azur, 31 Avenue de Valombrose, 06100 Nice, France.
Valeria Manera: Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, 06100 Nice, France.
Auriane Gros: Laboratoire CoBTeK, Université Côte d'Azur, 06100 Nice, France.
(1) Background: Persistent post-viral olfactory disorders (PPVOD) are estimated at 30% of patients one year after COVID-19 infection. No treatment is, to date, significantly effective on PPVOD with the exception of olfactory training (OT). The main objective of this work was to evaluate OT efficiency on post-COVID-19 PPVOD. (2) Methods: Consecutive patients consulting to the ENT department with post-COVID-19 PPVOD were included after completing clinical examination, the complete Sniffin’ Stick Test (TDI), the short version of the Questionnaire of olfactory disorders and the SF-36. Patients were trained to practice a self-olfactory training with a dedicated olfactory training kit twice a day for 6 months before returning to undergo the same assessments. (3) Results: Forty-three patients were included and performed 3.5 months of OT in average. We observed a significant TDI score improvement, increasing from 24.7 (±8.9) before the OT to 30.9 (±9.8) (p < 0.001). Based on normative data, a significant increase in the number of normosmic participants was observed only for the threshold values (p < 0.001). Specific and general olfaction-related quality of life improved after the OT. (4) Conclusions: Olfactory function appeared to improve only in peripheral aspects of post-COVID-19 PPVOD after OT. Future controlled studies must be performed to confirm the OT role and justify new therapeutic strategies that may focus on the central aspects of post-COVID-19 PPVOD.
