Interleukin-6 affects the severity of olfactory disorder: a cross-sectional survey of 148 patients who recovered from Omicron infection using the Sniffin' Sticks test in Tianjin, China. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liang, Yibo; Mao, Xiang; Kuang, Manbao; Zhi, Jingtai; Zhang, Ziyue; Bo, Mingyu; Zhang, Guimin; Lin, Peng; Wang, Wei; Shen, Zhongyang
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 123(2022)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Interleukin-6 -- Omicron -- Olfactory disorder -- Vaccination; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.07.074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: Sniffin' Sticks test could be a means of identification in patients with COVID-19. This is the first study to investigate olfactory function in vaccinated patients. The olfactory disorder groups had higher interleukin-6 levels than the normal group. Abstract: Objectives: The mechanism of olfactory disorder (OD) in patients with COVID-19 is unclear. Our study aimed to elucidate the relationships between inflammatory factors and OD in a sample of patients infected with the Omicron variant, with a high vaccination rate in China. Methods: The Sniffin' Sticks 12-item test was performed in a cross-sectional study of 148 recovered patients who were infected with the Omicron variant to evaluate OD severity. We compared demographic, laboratory, and clinical data. Results: A total of 148 patients infected with the Omicron variant were enrolled. A total of 129 cases of OD were detected. Increased inflammation contributed to OD severity, especially in the adult group. OD was shown to be aggravated by an increase in interleukin-6 levels. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 2.22 (95% confidence interval 0.98-5.05, P = 0.056) after adjustment for age, sex, and vaccine characteristics. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the prevalence of OD remains high in vaccinated patients infected with the Omicron variant and that the Sniffin' Sticks 12-item test might be a feasible method to screen for OD. Interleukin-6 may play a role in the biochemical and pathological processes underlying OD.