Introduction

The characteristics and impact of mouthfeel, temperature, smell, and taste alterations in patients with COVID-19 at a long term are yet not well known. In this study, these characteristics and their impact on daily life and quality of life (QoL) were assessed, six to ten months after infection, in patients with COVID-19 searching for peer support on Facebook.

Methods

Between December 2020 and January 2021, members of two COVID-19 Facebook groups were invited to complete a questionnaire. Participants were asked to report their perception of mouthfeel, temperature, smell, and taste alterations and their impact.

Results

The questionnaire was completed by 157/216 respondents (73%), with 92% being women. Alterations in mouthfeel, temperature, smell, and taste were reported by respectively 66, 40, 148, and 133 participants. The most frequently reported mouthfeel alterations were “a different feeling” and “dry mouth” in 38 and 30 participants, respectively. Preferences for food temperature were equally changed to “freezing”, “cool”, “room temperature”, “a bit warmer”, and “warmer”. An impact on daily life and QoL was reported by most patients with alterations in mouthfeel (91% and 79%), temperature (78% and 60%), smell (98% and 93%), and taste (93% and 88%), respectively.

Conclusions

Patients with COVID-19 searching for peer support on Facebook experienced, next to smell and taste alterations, mouthfeel and temperature disturbances, six to ten months after infection. These alterations have an impact on daily life and QoL.

Implications

Health professionals should, next to smell and taste alterations, be aware of mouthfeel and temperature alterations in patients with COVID-19.

中文翻译：

---

诊断后 6 至 10 个月 COVID-19 患者的主观口感和温度变化

介绍

COVID-19 患者长期的口感、温度、气味和味觉变化的特征和影响尚不为人所知。在这项研究中，在感染 6 到 10 个月后，评估了在 Facebook 上寻求同伴支持的 COVID-19 患者的这些特征及其对日常生活和生活质量 (QoL) 的影响。

方法

2020 年 12 月至 2021 年 1 月期间，两个 COVID-19 Facebook 群组的成员受邀完成问卷调查。参与者被要求报告他们对口感、温度、气味和味道变化的感知及其影响。

结果

问卷由 157/216 名受访者 (73%) 完成，其中 92% 为女性。分别有 66、40、148 和 133 名参与者报告了口感、温度、气味和味道的变化。最常报告的口感变化分别是 38 名和 30 名参与者的“不同感觉”和“口干”。对食物温度的偏好同样改变为“冷冻”、“凉爽”、“室温”、“稍微暖和”和“暖和”。大多数患者的日常生活和生活质量受到影响，其中口感（91% 和 79%）、温度（78% 和 60%）、气味（98% 和 93%）和味觉（93% 和 88%）发生变化）， 分别。

结论

感染 6 到 10 个月后，在 Facebook 上寻求同伴支持的 COVID-19 患者经历了嗅觉和味觉改变、口感和温度紊乱。这些改变对日常生活和 QoL 有影响。

启示

卫生专业人员除了嗅觉和味觉改变外，还应注意 COVID-19 患者的口感和温度变化。