Review
Taste alteration in COVID-19: Significant geographical differences exist in the prevalence of the symptom

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2021.07.002Get rights and content
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Abstract

Early detection of COVID-19 is important for reduction in the spread of the disease and gustatory disturbances (GD) are known to have a strong predictive value. In the present study, we aimed to map the geographical differences in the prevalence of GD in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of COVID-19 in order to improve case identification and to facilitate prioritization. We undertook a rapid scoping review of articles published in the repository of the National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE/PubMed) and medRxiv from their inception until 3rd September, 2020. The minimum requirements for completing a restricted systematic review were fulfilled. Of the 431 articles retrieved, 61 studies (28,374 cases confirmed with COVID-19) from 20 countries were included in the analysis. GD were most prevalent in the Americas [66.78%, 95% CI 54.77–78.79%] compared to Europe [57.18%, 95% CI 52.35–62.01%], the Middle East [38.83%, 95% CI 27.47–50.19%] and East Asia [13.1%, 95% CI 0.14–26.06%]. No differences of GD prevalence were evident between February and August 2020. The data demonstrate that there is a marked geographical distribution of GD in COVID-19 patients which, possibly, might be explained by differences in diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 case definition during the early phase of the pandemic.

Abbreviations

COVID-19
coronavirus Disease 2019
SARS-CoV- 2
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
EDCD
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
WHO
World Health Organization
GD
gustatory disease
PRISMA
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis
ANOVA
analysis of variance

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
Dysgeusia
Taste
COVID-19
Oral diseases

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