# Anosmia in COVID-19: Investigating the Role of Paranasal Sinus Mucosal Thickening

## TL;DR

This study examines whether mucosal thickening in the paranasal sinuses is linked to anosmia in COVID-19 patients.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence that mucosal thickening is not significantly associated with anosmia in COVID-19.

## Key findings

- No significant difference in mucosal thickening was found between patients with and without anosmia (p = 0.480).
- Anosmia in COVID-19 may involve factors beyond anatomical changes, such as direct viral effects or systemic inflammation.

## Abstract

Background

Anosmia has been identified as a distinctive symptom of COVID-19, leading to hypotheses about its pathophysiological underpinnings, including the potential role of paranasal sinus mucosal thickening.

Objective

To investigate the association between paranasal sinus mucosal thickening and anosmia in COVID-19 patients, providing insights into the complex clinical manifestations of the disease.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed CT paranasal sinus from 270 confirmed COVID-19 patients, divided into those with anosmia (n = 23, 8.52%) and those without anosmia (n = 247, 91.48%). Statistical analysis, including independent t-tests, was employed to compare mucosal thickening between the groups.

Results

The study found an average mucosal thickening of 0.03 in patients with anosmia and 0.02 in those without, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.480, which is greater than 0.05). The findings suggest that mucosal thickening in the paranasal sinuses does not serve as a definitive correlate of anosmia among COVID-19 patients.

Conclusion

The absence of a significant correlation between paranasal sinus mucosal thickening and anosmia in COVID-19 patients indicates that the pathophysiology of anosmia may involve factors beyond anatomical changes, including direct viral effects and systemic inflammatory responses.