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Oral and Olfactory Complications of Recovered COVID-19 Patients

Recruiting
Conditions
Oral Complication
Olfactory Disorder
Dysgeusia
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Gustatory and olfactory function test
Diagnostic Test: Molecular assessment of saliva
Registration Number
NCT04791436
Lead Sponsor
University of Giessen
Brief Summary

This cohort study aims to investigate the long-standing chemosensory disorders and oral manifestation after recovery of the COVID-19 illness. A correlation between the long-standing symptoms and the COVID-19 severity grade will be very important to understand and clarify the aetiology of these symptoms.

Detailed Description

This prospective cohort study aims to investigate the long-standing chemosensory disorders and oral manifestation after recovery of the COVID-19 illness. A correlation between the long-standing symptoms and the COVID-19 severity grade will be very important to understand and clarify the aetiology of these symptoms.

Study objectives:

1. To describe the frequency and severity of oral signs and chemosensory disorders that persist after the recovery of COVID-19 and to examine whether "taste disorders" can be discriminated into an- or hypogeusia and an- or hyposmia.

2. To report any correlation between the severity grade of COVID-19 and the resulting standing symptoms.

3. To describe the oral microbiome after infection with COVID-19 and to describe possible changes in comparison to normal healthy individuals.

Clinical and -if indicated- radiological examination to assess the long-term oral and chemosensory impairment and complaints of COVID-19 patients after their recovery shall be performed in an interdisciplinary setting of Maxillofacial Surgery, ENT and Medical Microbiology.

The study subjects will be divided into three groups according to the severity grade of illness: non-hospitalized, hospitalized, and intensive care patients. All adult COVID-19 recovery patients (exceeding the age of 18) will be included in the study. The time between illness and study recruitment shall be at least 3 months. Exclusion criteria are psychiatric or neurological diseases, previous trauma, surgery or radiotherapy in the oral or nasal cavities, pre-existing taste or smell dysfunctions or chronic rhinosinusitis.

The study variables include age, sex, co-morbidities, possible causes of exclusion from the study. The oral health assessment will be performed by examination of: periodontal status, assessment of oral lesions, a radiological examination by using panoramic x-ray if clinically indicated, photo documentation, objective evaluation of the olfactory and gustatory functions with psychophysical tests. The gustatory and olfactory function will be tested by using the combined Burghart Screening 12 test containing smelling sticks and taste strips (Fa. MediSense, Groningen, Netherlands). Evaluation of taste and smell is performed by offering the sticks/strips and demand a forced multiple choice.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
402
Inclusion Criteria
  • All adult COVID-19 recovery patients (exceeding the age of 18) will be included in the study. The time between illness and study recruitment shall be at least 3 months.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Exclusion criteria are psychiatric or neurological diseases, previous trauma, surgery or radiotherapy in the oral or nasal cavities, pre-existing taste or smell dysfunctions or chronic rhinosinusitis.

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Mild IllnessMolecular assessment of salivaRecovered COVID-19 patients who experienced a mild clinical course
Moderate IllnessGustatory and olfactory function testRecovered COVID-19 patients who experienced a moderate clinical course
Moderate IllnessMolecular assessment of salivaRecovered COVID-19 patients who experienced a moderate clinical course
Severe IllnessGustatory and olfactory function testRecovered COVID-19 patients who experienced a severe clinical course
Mild IllnessGustatory and olfactory function testRecovered COVID-19 patients who experienced a mild clinical course
Severe IllnessMolecular assessment of salivaRecovered COVID-19 patients who experienced a severe clinical course
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Oral mucocutaneous lesionsAt least 3 months after recovery of COVID-19

An intraoral examination will be carried out to assess the presence of any mucocutaneous lesions (dichotomous variable)

Periodontal healthAt least 3 months after recovery of COVID-19

Community Periodontal Index (CPI) of the World Health Organization (WHO) will be used to assess periodontal health (continuous variable)

Gustatory functionAt least 3 months after recovery of COVID-19

Burghart Sniffin' Sticks "Screening 12 Test" will be used to assess gustatory function (continuous variable)

Olfactory functionAt least 3 months after recovery of COVID-19

Burghart Sniffin' Sticks "Screening 12 Test" will be used to assess olfactory function (continuous variable)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Justus-Liebig University

🇩🇪

Gießen, Hesse, Germany

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