Table 1 Characteristics of the total sample and the clusters based on chemosensory recovery.

From: Assessing the extent and timing of chemosensory impairments during COVID-19 pandemic

Variable

Full sample (N = 974)

Partial chemosensory recovery (N = 471)

Mean (SD) or N

Substantial chemosensory recovery (N = 503)

Mean (SD) or N

Statistic

Smell recovery

41.14 (35.69)

13.37 (24.97)

67.16 (21.97)

t = − 35.59, p < 0.0001

Taste recovery

40.35 (35.58)

10.74 (21.58)

68.07 (20.62)

t = − 42.32, p < 0.0001

Chemesthesis recovery

28.71 (34.87)

7.55 (24.08)

48.52 (31.63)

t = − 22.83, p < 0.0001

Region of residency (Lombardy)

653 (67%)

292 (61.9%)

361 (71.8%)

χ2 = 2.02, p = 0.15

Gender (female)

675 (69.3%)

329 (48.7%)

346 (51.2%)

χ2 = 0.0002, p = 0.98

Age

41.33 (11.37), range = 19–78

43.16 (11.74), range = 19–75

39.63 (10.75), range = 19–78

t = 4.88, p < 0.0001

Onset of symptoms (days)

41.61(20), range = 3–177

43.15 (23.87), range = 3–177

40.17 (15.41), range = 7–152

t = 2.30, p = 0.02

COVID-19 diagnosis

591 self-diagnosed (60.6%), 196 lab tested (20.1%), 187 clinical assessment (19.2%)

279 self-diagnosed (59.2%), 107 lab tested (22.7%), 85 clinical assessment (18.02%)

312 self-diagnosed (62.02%), 89 lab tested (17.7%), 102 clinical assessment (20.3%)

χ2 = 0.81, p = 0.66

Smokers (yes)

427 (43.8%)

194 (41.18%)

233 (46.3%)

χ2 = 0.35, p = 0.55

Prior medical conditions (% based on presence of at least one prior medical condition)

311 (31.9%)

155 (32.9%)

156 (31.01%)

χ2 = 0.02, p = 0.89

  1. Significant differences between the two recovery groups are marked in bold.