Antibody response, associated symptoms and profile of patients presumably infected by SARS-CoV-2 with taste or smell disorders in the SAPRIS multicohort study
Authors: Ramillon Julien , de Lamballerie Xavier , Robineau Olivier , Blanché Hélène , Severi Gianluca , Touvier Mathilde , Zins Marie , Carrat Fabrice ,   the SAPRIS-SERO study group, Ancel Pierre-Yves , Charles Marie-Aline , Kab Sofiane , Renuy Adeline , Le-Got Stéphane , Ribet Céline , Wiernik Emmanuel , Goldberg Marcel , Artaud Fanny , Gerbouin-Rérolle Pascale , Enguix Melody , Laplanche Camille , Gomes-Rima Roselyn , Hoang Lyan , Correia Emmanuelle , Barry Alpha Amadou , Senina Nadège , Szabo de Edelenyi Fabien , Druesne-Pecollo Nathalie , Esseddik Younes , Hercberg Serge , Benhammou Valérie , Ritmi Anass , Marchand Laetitia , Zaros Cécile , Lordmi Elodie , Candea Adriana , de Visme Sophie , Simeon Thierry , Thierry Xavier , Geay Bertrand , Dufourg Marie-Noëlle , Milcent Karen , Lusivika-Nzinga Clovis , Pannetier Gregory , Lapidus Nathanael , Goderel Isabelle , Dorival Céline , Nicol Jérôme , Lai Cindy , Esperou Hélène , Couffin-Cadiergues Sandrine , Gagliolo Jean-Marie , Sebaoun Jean-Marc , Beaudoin Jean-Christophe , Gressin Laetitia , Morel Valérie , Ouili Ouissam , Deleuze Jean-Francois , Priet Stephane , Saba Villarroel Paola Mariela , Fourié Toscane , Mohamed Ali Souand , Amroun Abdenour , Seston Morgan , Ayhan Nazli , Pastorino Boris , Pellicer Mireille , Allegre Julien , Deschasaux Mélanie , Rahib Delphine , Lydie Nathalie , Robineau Olivier , Belhadji Liza , Ninove Laetitia ,   the SAPRIS study group, Bajos Nathalie , Ancel Pierre-Yves , Charles Marie-Aline , Jusot Florence , Martin Claude , Meyer Laurence , Pailhe Ariane , Spire Alexis , Rouquette Alexandra , Lapidus Nathanaël 
Published: April 2023

Background

Taste or smell disorders have been reported as strongly associated with COVID-19 diagnosis. We aimed to identify subject characteristics, symptom associations, and antibody response intensity associated with taste or smell disorders.

Methods

We used data from SAPRIS, a study based on a consortium of five prospective cohorts gathering 279,478 participants in the French general population. In the analysis, we selected participants who were presumably infected by SARS-CoV-2 during the first epidemic wave.

Results

The analysis included 3,439 patients with a positive ELISA-Spike. Sex (OR = 1.28 [95% CI 1.05–1.58] for women), smoking (OR = 1.54 [95% CI 1.13–2.07]), consumption of more than 2 drinks of alcohol a day (OR = 1.37 [95% CI 1.06–1.76]) were associated with a higher probability of taste or smell disorders. The relationship between age and taste or smell disorders was non-linear. Serological titers were associated with taste or smell disorders: OR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.26–1.36], OR = 1.37 [95% CI 1.33–1.42] and OR = 1.34 [95% CI 1.29–1.39] for ELISA-Spike, ELISA-Nucleocapsid and seroneutralization, respectively. Among participants with taste or smell disorders, 90% reported a wide variety of other symptoms whereas 10% reported no other symptom or only rhinorrhea.

Conclusions

Among patients with a positive ELISA-Spike test, women, smokers and people drinking more than 2 drinks a day were more likely to develop taste or smell disorders. This symptom was strongly associated with an antibody response. The overwhelming majority of patients with taste or smell disorders experienced a wide variety of symptoms.