Data Collection
We conducted a face-to-face interview with the participants. We
Collected basic demographic, epidemiological and clinical data of
hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Data on comorbidities, past medical
and surgical history, olfactory dysfunction data were obtained. Quick-
Smell Identification Test was performed in all patients.
Olfactory Testing
Olfactory function screening was done through Q-SIT. This is a
Three-item microencapsulated odor identification test of standardized
odors with five multiple choice options, one is “none/other” (Figure
1). Question one is testing chocolate odor, while the second is testing
banana odor and third is for smoke odor.14
This test was chosen in particular because it is tear-off card test
(disposable) so there is no concern about contamination and transmission
of disease form COVID-19 patients. Moreover, it is fast and can be
administered with in less than 1 minute.15 The test
was validated against University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification
Test (UPSIT). Though we disproved the validity of UPSIT in previous
publication on our population, the three odorants used in Q-SIT are
validated and accurately identified by our
population.16 Cutoff point on one wrong answer gives
better sensitivity and specificity with negative and positive predictive
value of 98% ,43% respectively for detecting
anosmia.14 Accordingly, we considered cutoff score of
≥ 2 to be normal test and cutoff score of ≤ 1 to be abnormal test for
anosmia.