
@article {87277,
	title = {Recent smell loss is the best predictor of COVID-19 among individuals with recent respiratory symptoms},
	journal = {Chem Senses},
	volume = {46},
	year = {2021},
	month = {12/2020},
	abstract = {<p>In a preregistered, cross-sectional study we investigated whether olfactory loss is a reliable predictor of COVID-19 using a crowdsourced questionnaire in 23 languages to assess symptoms in individuals self-reporting recent respiratory illness. We quantified changes in chemosensory abilities during the course of the respiratory illness using 0-100 visual analog scales (VAS) for participants reporting a positive (C19+; n=4148) or negative (C19-; n=546) COVID-19 laboratory test outcome. Logistic regression models identified univariate and multivariate predictors of COVID-19 status and post-COVID-19 olfactory recovery. Both C19+ and C19- groups exhibited smell loss, but it was significantly larger in C19+ participants (mean{\textpm}SD, C19+: -82.5{\textpm}27.2 points; C19-: -59.8{\textpm}37.7). Smell loss during illness was the best predictor of COVID-19 in both univariate and multivariate models (ROC AUC=0.72). Additional variables provide negligible model improvement. VAS ratings of smell loss were more predictive than binary chemosensory yes/no-questions or other cardinal symptoms (e.g., fever). Olfactory recovery within 40 days of respiratory symptom onset was reported for ~50\% of participants and was best predicted by time since respiratory symptom onset. We find that quantified smell loss is the best predictor of COVID-19 amongst those with symptoms of respiratory illness. To aid clinicians and contact tracers in identifying individuals with a high likelihood of having COVID-19, we propose a novel 0-10 scale to screen for recent olfactory loss, the ODoR-19. We find that numeric ratings <=2 indicate high odds of symptomatic COVID-19 (4\&lt;OR\&lt;10). Once independently validated, this tool could be deployed when viral lab tests are impractical or unavailable.</p>
},
	doi = {10.1093/chemse/bjaa081},
	author = {Gerkin, RC and Ohla, K and Veldhuizen, MG and Joseph, PV and Kelly, CE and Bakke, AJ and Steele, KE and Farruggia, MC and Pellegrino, R and Pepino, MY and Bouysset, C and Soler, GM and Pereda-Loth, V and Dibattista, M and Cooper, KW and Croijmans, I and Di Pizio, A and Ozdener, MH and Fjaeldstad, AW and Lin, C and Sandell, MA and Singh, PB and Brindha, VE and Olsson, SB and Saraiva, LR and Ahuja, G and Alwashahi, MK and Bhutani, S and D{\textquoteright}Errico, A and Fornazieri, MA and Golebiowski, J and Hwang, LD and {\"O}zt{\"u}rk, L and Roura, E and Spinelli, S and Whitcroft, KL and Faraji, F and Fischmeister, FP and Heinbockel, T and Hsieh, JW and Huart, C and Konstantinidis, I and Menini, A and Morini, G and Olofsson, JK and Philpott, CM and Pierron, D and Shields, VDC and Voznessenskaya, VV and Albayay, J and Altundag, A and Bensafi, M and Bock, MA and Calcinoni, O and Fredborg, W and Laudamiel, C and Lim, J and Lundstr{\"o}m, JN and Macchi, A and Meyer, P and Moein, ST and Santamar{\'\i}a, E and Sengupta, D and Dominguez, PR and Yanik, H and Hummel, T and Hayes, JE and Reed, DR and Niv, MY and Munger, SD and Parma, V and GCCR Group}
}
