Table 3 Factors associated with smell and/or taste disturbances among COVID-19 patients in Malaysia.
From: Self-reported symptom study of COVID-19 chemosensory dysfunction in Malaysia
Variables | Smell &/or taste disturbance | Univariate analysis | Multivariate analysis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present, n (%) | Absent, n (%) | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p-valueA | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p-valueB | |
Age group (years) | ||||||
≤ 50 | 163 (45.0) | 199 (55.0) | 1.77 (1.17–2.72) | 0.007 | 1.30 (0.82–2.08) | 0.27 |
> 50 | 43 (31.6) | 93 (68.4) | 1.00 (reference) | 1.00 (reference) | ||
Sex | ||||||
Male | 103 (36.9) | 176 (63.1) | 0.6591 (0.46–0.94) | 0.02 | 0.71 (0.47–1.07) | 0.10 |
Female | 103 (47.0) | 116 (53.0) | 1.00 (reference) | 1.00 (reference) | ||
Ethnicity | ||||||
Malay | 166 (43.5) | 216 (56.5) | 1.46 (0.95–2.26) | 0.09 | – | – |
Chinese | 20 (40.0) | 30 (60.0) | 0.94 (0.52–1.69) | 0.84 | – | – |
Indian | 5 (55.6) | 4 (44.4) | 1.94 (0.58–6.37) | 0.32 | – | – |
Other Malaysian ethnics | 15 (31.9) | 32 (68.1) | 0.59 (0.31–1.13) | 0.10 | – | – |
Comorbidities | ||||||
Hypertension | 32 (37.2) | 54 (62.8) | 0.81 (0.51–1.29) | 0.40 | – | – |
Diabetes | 25 (36.2) | 44 (63.8) | 0.78 (0.46–1.31) | 0.43 | – | – |
Smoking | 21 (37.5) | 35 (62.5) | 0.83 (0.48–1.48) | 0.57 | – | – |
Allergies/allergic rhinitis | 16 (45.7) | 19 (54.3) | 1.21 (0.63–2.41) | 0.60 | – | – |
Obstructive sleep apnoea | 14 (50.0) | 14 (50.0) | 1.45 (0.68–3.05) | 0.43 | – | – |
Rhinosinusitis | 12 (44.4) | 15 (55.6) | 1.16 (0.53–2.59) | 0.84 | – | – |
Chronic lung disease/asthma | 14 (53.9) | 12 (46.2) | 1.70 (0.80–3.78) | 0.22 | – | – |
Obesity | 12 (52.2) | 11 (47.8) | 1.41 (0.59–3.10) | 0.52 | – | – |
Cardiac disease | 6 (46.2) | 7 (53.9) | 1.22 (0.40–3.34) | 0.78 | – | – |
Psychiatric disorders | 3 (42.8) | 4 (57.1) | 1.06 (0.27–4.00) | > 0.99 | – | – |
Previous sinonasal surgery | 3 (42.8) | 4 (57.1) | 1.06 (0.27–4.00) | > 0.99 | – | – |
History of head trauma | 1 (25.0) | 3 (75.0) | 1.66 (0.59–9.12) | 0.65 | – | – |
Previous head/brain surgery | 1 (20.0) | 4 (80.0) | 0.35 (0.03–2.14) | 0.65 | – | – |
Associated symptoms | ||||||
Fever | 110 (55) | 90 (45) | 2.53 (1.78–3.69) | < 0.001 | 1.47 (0.92–2.348) | 0.11 |
Cough | 74 (48.7) | 78 (51.3) | 1.54 (1.03–1.57) | 0.03 | 0.64 (0.39–1.05) | 0.08 |
Sore throat | 74 (58.3) | 53 (41.7) | 2.53 (1.67–3.80) | < 0.001 | 1.53 (0.93–2.54) | 0.10 |
Malaise | 72 (60.5) | 47 (39.5) | 2.80 (1.81–4.24) | < 0.001 | 0.93 (0.52–1.68) | 0.81 |
Loss of appetite | 79 (73.8) | 28 (26.2) | 5.87 (3.64–9.59) | < 0.001 | 4.17 (2.35–7.38) | < 0.001 |
Muscle ache | 43 (57.3) | 32 (42.7) | 2.14 (1.29–3.55) | 0.003 | 0.71 (0.36–1.39) | 0.32 |
Headache | 46 (69.7) | 20 (30.3) | 3.91 (2.21–6.71) | < 0.001 | 1.40 (0.68–2.89) | 0.36 |
Nasal congestion | 46 (76.7) | 14 (23.3) | 5.71 (3.02–10.37) | < 0.001 | 4.95 (2.41–10.15) | < 0.001 |
Rhinorrhoea | 22 (64.7) | 12 (35.3) | 2.79 (1.36–5.64) | 0.004 | 1.24 (0.52–2.97) | 0.63 |
Chills | 20 (64.5) | 11 (35.5) | 2.75 (1.26–6.04) | 0.007 | 1.48 (0.60–3.69) | 0.40 |
Gastrointestinal disturbances | 44 (73.3) | 16 (26.7) | 4.69 (2.56–8.52) | < 0.001 | 2.17 (1.04–4.53) | 0.04 |
