COVID-19’s Impact on Olfactory Function and Olfaction-Related Quality of Life and its Relationship with Eating Behavior COVID-19’UN KOKU ALMA FONKSİYONU VE KOKU İLE İLİŞKİLİ YAŞAM KALİTESİNE ETKİSİ VE YEME DAVRANIŞI İLE İLİŞKİSİ

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Artuk M., Karaman S. T., BASAT O.

Journal of Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine, cilt.25, sa.2, ss.303-312, 2023 (Scopus, TRDizin)

Özet

Objective: Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) can cause smell and taste disorders that can continue after recovery. In this study; it was aimed to examine the effect of COVID-19 on olfactory function and odor-related quality of life (QOL) and its relationship with eating behavior. Material and Methods: This analytical study was conducted with individuals aged 18 years and older who applied to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital between January and May 2022, who had not had a diagnosed eating disorder and had COVID-19 in the last 2-6 months. In obtaining the data; Patient Information Form, Assessment of Self-Reported Olfactory Functioning and Olfaction-Related Quality of Life (ASOF), and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) were used. Results: The study was carried out with 316 people with a mean age of 39.71±13.40 years. Average scores from ASOF sub-dimensions; 9.16±1.47 for self-reported capability of perceiving (SRP); 4.66±0.75 for the capacity to detect specific odors scale (SOC) and 4.70±0.65 for the olfaction-related quality of life (ORQ). 1.26% of the participants had deterioration in SRP, 3.8% in SOC and 8.5% in ORQ. The average scores from DEBQ were; 32.57±13.16 for “Emotional Eating”; 27.60±7.85 for “Restrictive Eating” and 31.10±7.47 for “External Eating”. No statistically significant correlation was found between ASOF and DEBQ scores. Those who had COVID-19 4-6 months ago had higher SRP, SOC, ORQ and 'Restrictive Eating' scores (p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001; p=0.044, respectively). Conclusion: Abnormal olfactory capacity was detected in 1.26% of those who had COVID-19, a decrease in the capacity to detect odors in 3.8% and a decrease in ORQ in 8.5%. Odor-related functions and ORQ were more impaired in those with a more recent history. However, there was no significant relationship between olfactory function and ORQ and eating behaviors.