CHARACTERISTICS OF SMELL AND TASTE DISORDERS IN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE-2019 PATIENTS AT HAJI ADAM MALIK GENERAL HOSPITAL MEDAN

Abstract

Introduction : In 2020 the pandemic caused by Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) affects the lives of millions of patients and healthcare workers around the world. Smell and taste disturbances were found as a single symptom and were associated with other symptoms. This research aims to know the frequency distribution of smell and taste disorders and describe their characteristics in COVID-19 patients.

Method: Analytical descriptive study with a retrospective approach in the population of COVID-19 patients at Haji Adam Malik General Hospital (RSUP HAM) Medan for the period March to August 2020. The variables assessed were frequency distribution, percentage of smell and taste disorders, age, gender, and the results of the Polymerase Chain Reaction examination. (PCR).

Result: A total of 193 COVID-19 patients, It was found that 66 people (34.2%) experienced smell disorders and 76 people (39.4%) experienced taste disorders. Most age <50 years as many as 45 subjects (68.2%) and 51 subjects (67.1%), the most gender was female with 40 subjects (60.7%) and 45 subjects (59.2%),most ethnic group was Bataknese 26 subjects (39.3%) and 31 subjects (40.8%) with the most employment status was civil servants 27 subjects (40.9%) and 30 subjects (39.5%). There were smell disorders in COVID-19 patients with a positive PCR of 53.9% and a negative PCR of 12.1%; taste disorders in subjects with positive PCR was 62.7% and negative PCR was 13.2%.

Conclusion: In COVID-19 patients, there were 34.2% smell disorders and 39.4% taste disorders with most characteristics aged <50 years (68.2% and 67.1%), female sex (60.7% and 59.2 %), with positive PCR results (53.9% and 62.7%).