WHAT ABOUT USING SNIFFIN’ STICKS 12 SCREENING TEST TO IDENTIFY POST-COVID-19 OLFACTORY DISORDERS?
Abstract
Background
Olfactory impairment is a major sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection and has a negative impact on daily life quality. Olfactory loss can be assessed in many ways but seems to be little realized in a daily clinical practice. The sniffin Sticks test – 12 items (SST-12) can be used in quick olfactory disorders screening. Its use in a post-covid19 situation was the main objective of this work.
Methodology
Consecutive patients consulting to the ENT department with post-Covid-19 olfactory loss were included. The clinical examination included an analog scale for the self-assessment of olfactory recovery (VAS), self-reported salt and sugar intake, a nasofibroscopy, the complete Sniffin’ Stick Test (SST) and the SST-12.
Results
Among the 54 patients included, based on the SST-12, 14,8% (n=8) of the patients could be classified as normosmic (SST-12≥11), 48,1% (n=26) as hyposmic (6< SST-12<10) and 37% (n=20) as functional anosmic (SST-12≤6). We report excellent and significant correlations between SST-12 and SST or VAS assessments. Salt and Sugar increased intake seems significantly related to SST-12 results.
Conclusions
SST-12 is a reliable way to screen post-COVID-19 olfactory disorders could be used in a daily clinical practice and might be used to prevent bad diet habits and so cardiovascular risk.
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