Loss of Smell May Persist for Years After Covid-19: Study

New Delhi – A new study has revealed that loss of smell can linger for years after a Covid-19 infection, even in people who may not notice it.

The research, led by scientists at the US National Institutes of Health and New York University Langone Health, used a 40-odour clinical test to assess the link between Covid-19 and hyposmia — a reduced ability to smell.

Findings showed that 80 per cent of participants who reported changes in their smelling ability after contracting Covid scored poorly on scent-detection tests conducted about two years later. Among them, 23 per cent had severe impairment or had completely lost their sense of smell.

Interestingly, 66 per cent of participants who had been infected but did not notice any problems with smell also recorded abnormal results, the researchers noted.

“Our findings confirm that those with a history of Covid-19 may be especially at risk for a weakened sense of smell, an issue that is already under-recognised among the general population,” said co-lead author Leora Horwitz, professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open and involving 3,535 men and women, is the largest to date to formally examine long-term loss of smell after Covid. It also found that 60 per cent of uninfected participants who did not report smelling problems performed poorly in the evaluation.

Researchers suggested that healthcare providers should routinely check for smell loss in post-Covid patients. They are also exploring possible treatments, including vitamin A supplements and olfactory training, which aims to “rewire” the brain’s response to different odours.

With inputs from IANS