COVID-19 Related Chemosensory Changes in Individuals with Self-Reported Obesity.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Individuals with obesity show alterations in smell and taste abilities. Smell and taste loss are also the most prominent neurological symptoms of COVID-19, yet how chemosensory ability present in individuals with obesity with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis is unknown.

Subjects/methods

In this secondary analysis of a cross-sectional global dataset, we compared self-reported chemosensory ability in participants with a respiratory illness reporting a positive (C19+; n = 5156) or a negative (C19-; n = 659) COVID-19 laboratory test outcome, who also self-reported to be obese (C19+; n = 433, C19-; n = 86) or non-obese.

Results

Compared to the C19- group, C19+ exhibited a greater decline in smell, taste, and chemesthesis during illness, though these symp

SUBMITTER: Bhutani S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7941654 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature