Cochrane · systematic review · CD013877
Interventions for the prevention of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction
Webster, KE, O'Byrne, L, MacKeith, S, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2022 · Cochrane Library
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
17
current version
GRADE rated
8
No studies
9
Included studies
NR
No studies 9 · 52.9%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 6 · 35.3%Low 2 · 11.8%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Current version onlyIntranasal steroid spray compared to no intervention/placebo for the prevention of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction
Population: people with olfactory dysfunction for less than 4 weeks following COVID‐19 infection
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Presence of normal olfactory function Assessed by participants as a score of 10 on a VAS (range 0 to 10) ≤ 4 weeks Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | RR 1.19 [0.85, 1.68] | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Presence of normal olfactory function Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | RR 2.31 [1.16, 4.64] | 1 study · 77 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Serious adverse events Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 77 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Change in sense of smell Assessed by participants (VAS, higher score = better, range 0 to 10) ≤ 4 weeks Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 77 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Change in sense of smell Assessed by participants (VAS, higher score = better, scale 0 to 10) > 4 weeks to 3 months Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Change in sense of smell Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 77 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Prevalence of parosmia Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Change in sense of taste Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Disease‐related quality of life Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Other adverse effects Intranasal steroid spray vs no intervention/placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 77 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Intranasal steroid drops compared to placebo for the prevention of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction
Population: participants with olfactory dysfunction following COVID‐19 for ≤ 15 days
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Presence of normal olfactory function Assessed by participants > 4 weeks to 3 months Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo | RR 1 [0.89, 1.11] | 1 study · 248 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Serious adverse effects Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Change in sense of smell Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Prevalence of parosmia Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Change in sense of taste Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Disease‐related quality of life Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Other adverse effects Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intranasal steroids compared to no intervention for the prevention of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction
Population: adults with olfactory dysfunction for < 4 weeks following COVID‐19 infection
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Self‐rated presence of normal olfactory function Intranasal steroids vs no intervention | RR 1.19 [0.85, 1.68] | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Serious adverse effects Intranasal steroids vs no intervention | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Self‐rated change in sense of smell Intranasal steroids vs no intervention | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Prevalence of parosmia Intranasal steroids vs no intervention | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Change in sense of taste Intranasal steroids vs no intervention | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Disease‐related quality of life Intranasal steroids vs no intervention | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Other adverse effects Intranasal steroids vs no intervention | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |