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. 2020 Jun 8:1–8. doi: 10.1017/cem.2020.420

Table 2.

Characterization of anosmia/hyposmia and ageusia/dysgeusia by COVID-19 diagnosis

Characterization of anosmia/hyposmia – %
Total (n = 127) Positive (n = 56) Negative (n = 71)
Anosmia/hyposmia around the time of COVID-19 symptom onset* (5 days before or any time after)
Yes 20.5 41.1 4.2
No 64.6 41.1 83.1
Unable to recall 13.4 16.1 11.3
Prefer not to respond 0.8 0.0 1.4
Timing of anosmia/hyposmia Total (n = 26) Positive (n = 23) Negative (n = 3)
Before any other symptoms 11.5 8.7 33.3
Early (after one or two other symptoms) 42.3 43.5 33.3
Late (after other symptoms developed) 42.3 43.5 33.3
Unknown (did not select) 3.8 4.3 0.0
Current ability to smell Total (n = 26) Positive (n = 23) Negative (n = 3)
Normal 50.0 47.8 66.7
Diminished 23.1 26.1 0.0
Absent 23.1 26.1 0.0
Unknown (did not select) 3.9 0.0 33.3
Characterization of dysgeusia/ageusia – %
Total (n = 127) Positive (n = 56) Negative (n = 71)
Dysgeusia/ageusia around the time of COVID-19 symptom onset* (5 days before or any time after)
Yes 23.6 46.4 5.6
No 69.3 51.8 83.1
Unable to recall 6.3 1.8 9.9
Prefer not to respond 0.8 0.0 1.4
Component of taste loss Total (n = 30) Positive (n = 26) Negative (n = 4)
Salty 73.3 73.1 75.0
Sweet 60.0 65.4 25.0
Sour 56.7 57.7 50.0
Bitter 60.0 61.5 50.0
Savoury 76.7 80.8 50.0

*Statistically significant p-value (< 0.05). Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables.