Table 2 Characteristics and outcome measurements over time. Data are presented as median (IQR) or n (%). SNOT-22, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test; TDI score, threshold-discrimination-identification score; SST, Sniffin’ Sticks Test; TST, Taste Strip Test; ODQ, Olfactory Disorders Questionnaire; VAS, visual analogue scale. Outcome ranges were as follows: SNOT-22 0–110; TDI 1–48; T 1–16; D 0–16; I; 0–16; TST 0–16; sweet, sour, salty, bitter 0–4; ODQ 0.13–1.0; VAS 0–10

Age, years

48 (41–57)

50 (40.5–57)

51 (41–58)

Sex

 Female

73 (63.5)

72 (63.7)

51 (66.2)

 Male

42 (36.5)

41 (36.3)

26 (33.8)

Time from confirmed COVID test, days

43.0 (42.5–69.5)

140 (128–154)

368 (355–379)

Time from start of smell loss, days

55.0 (42.0–66.8)

137 (126.3–152)

365.5 (352–376.8)

Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22)

21.0 (14.0–39.0)

18.0 (10–28)

17.0 (8.5–30.0)

Sniffin’ Stick Test (SST)

 TDI score

21.25 (18.25–24.75)

27.5 (23.63–30.0)

30.75 (27.38–33.5)

 Threshold

1.5 (1.0–3.5)

4.5 (3.3–5.6)

6.25 (4.1–7.5)

 Discrimination

9.0 (8.0–11.0)

11.0 (10.0–13.0)

12.0 (10.0–13.0)

 Identification

10.0 (8.0–11.0)

11.0 (10.0–13.0)

13.0 (11.0–14.0)

Taste Strip Test (TST)

 Total score

10.0 (7.0–12.0)

11.0 (9.0–13.0)

12.0 (9.0–14.0)

 Sweet

4.0 (2.0–4.0)

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

 Sour

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

 Salty

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

 Bitter

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

Olfactory Disorders Questionnaire (ODQ)

 Total score

0.48 (0.41–0.57)

0.38 (0.26–0.53)

0.30 (0.21–0.43)

Self-reported visual analogue scale (VAS)

 Sense of smell

1.2 (0.4–3.0)

3.2 (1.4–6.0)

6.1 (2.7–7.5)

 Sense of taste

3.4 (1.1–5.7)

5.3 (2.3–7.7)

7.0 (3.4–7.9)

 Trigeminal sensations

4.5 (2.2–6.6)

5.3 (2.8–7.6)

6.10 (2.5–8.0)