Keywords
olfactory dysfunction
rhinomanometry
COVID-19
rhinosinusitis
nasal obstruction
How to Cite
Abstract
In press
Background. Olfactory disorders are widespread and are of considerable socio-medical importance. However, effective evidence-based approaches to the symptomatic treatment of dysosmia – both in common rhinological diseases and post-viral conditions, particularly COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction – remain insufficiently defined.
Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of symptomatic conservative therapy in the treatment of patients with respiratory dysosmia of functional and viral (SARS-CoV-2) origin, including assessment of olfactory function.
Materials & Methods. The study included 183 patients, aged 18 to 60, with olfactory dysfunction resulting from rhinological pathology of functional and post-viral origin. The patients were divided into four groups and received traditional symptomatic treatment. Data collection involved the SNOT-22 questionnaire, rhinomanometry, and olfactometry, conducted both before and after treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Student's t-test with Excel 2022 (Microsoft, USA).
Research Ethics. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (1964–2024). All study participants provided informed consent.
Results. The symptomatic treatment demonstrated significant effectiveness across the groups according to the questionnaire results (p<0.001), showing a reduction in subjective symptoms. Rhinomanometry findings also showed significant improvement in indicators across all groups (p<0.05); however, a moderate degree of severity persisted in patients with functional dysosmia. Following treatment, olfactometry findings demonstrated no significant improvement in olfaction among patients with viral dysosmia (p=0.33). In the remaining groups, the degree of olfactory impairment remained at the level of hyposmia, although the indicators were higher post-treatment (p<0.005).
Conclusions. The choice of treatment method for patients with olfactory dysfunction should be considered based on the disease origin, with particular focus on the mechanical-obstructive and sensorineural mechanisms of its development.
Keywords: otolaryngology, olfactory dysfunction, rhinomanometry, COVID-19, rhinosinusitis, nasal obstruction.
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