The Association of Anosmia With Various Comorbidities in COVID-19 Positive Patients

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted anosmia as a key symptom in SARS-CoV-2 infection. While anosmia is widely recognised, its correlation with underlying comorbidities remains underexplored. Patients with known comorbidities are found to be worst affected by SARS-CoV-2, with increased risk of complications and mortality rates. This observational study investigates anosmia in COVID-19 patients with associated comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and asthma. Material and Methods This observational study included 111 COVID-19 RT-PCR-positive patients. They were subjected to a telephonic interview using a predesigned questionnaire to assess their symptomatology and comorbidities. Data were analysed for the association between anosmia, comorbidities, and disease progression. The chi-square test was the statistical tool used to find the association between anosmia and comorbidities. Results The most common comorbidities recognised in this study were type II Diabetes (17%) and hypertension (16%), followed by asthma (8%). There was a higher prevalence of anosmia in asthmatic patients, with a p-value of 0.05, indicating a borderline statistical significance. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and other comorbidities showed no significant correlation with anosmia. Conclusion This study found no direct correlation between anosmia and disease progression or prognosis among COVID-19 patients with pre-existing comorbidities. These findings contribute to the clinical significance of anosmia in COVID-19, particularly in patients with preexisting comorbidities.