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Validation of a  self-administered olfactory and gustatory test for the remotely evaluation of  COVID-19 patients in home quarantine
  • Luigi Angelo Vaira, MD
Luigi Angelo Vaira, MD
University Hospital of Sassari

Corresponding Author:albell@mdanderson.org

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Abstract

Background. Chemosensitive disorders are very frequent in the early stages of COVID-19 and in paucisymptomatic cases. These patients are typically placed in home quarantine. This study has the aim of validating a new olfactory and gustatory objective evaluation test in these patients.
Methods. Thirty-three home-quarantined COVID-19 patients have undergone a self-administered chemosensitive test the day before the control swab. On this occasion, the patients underwent operator-administered already validated tests. The results were finally compared.
Results. The differences between the results of the two tests were not significant for both the olfaction (P = 0.201) and the taste (P = 0.180).
Conclusion. The olfactory and gustatory evaluation by self-administered test can be considered a valid tool, fundamental for obtaining objective qualitative and quantitative data on the extent of chemosensitive disorders in home-quarantined COVID-19 patients.