An Integrated Care Strategy for the Follow-up of Patients With COVID-19–Associated Chemosensory Dysfunction. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Locatello, Luca Giovanni; Maggiore, Giandomenico; Bruno, Chiara; Trotta, Michele; Gallo, Oreste
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 164:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 296
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- rhinology -- SARS-CoV-2 infection -- anosmia -- olfactory disorder; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599820950716
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

The proportion of patients with residual olfactory and gustatory dysfunction after COVID-19 is increasing, and practical health care strategies need to be developed to manage this novel situation in otolaryngology services worldwide. Starting from our experience in a large Italian hospital, we estimated that >1500 people will complain of some form of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in the future months in our region. We want to share our logistical and clinical integrated pathway that is aimed to screen and refer each patient to the most appropriate level of care in order to optimize resources and avoid overwhelming the available clinics.