Acupuncture Therapy for COVID-Related Olfactory Loss

Mayo Clinic

Status: Completed

Conditions: COVID-19; Olfactory Dysfunction

Treatments: Other: Olfactory Training; Drug: Budesonide; Device: Acupuncture Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04952389

21-003531

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is looking at the role of acupuncture as a treatment for olfactory dysfunction in patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years or older.
• Patients with post-viral olfactory dysfunction > 4 weeks.
• History of positive COVID-19 PCR.

Exclusion criteria

• Less than 18 years of age.
• Active sinus infection.
• New diagnosis of untreated CRS.
• Prior diagnosis of dementia or Parkinson's disease.
• Prior head trauma or neurosurgical procedure resulting in olfactory loss.
• Patients who do not speak or read English.
• Patients unable to understand and sign the study consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Acupuncture Therapy Group

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects will undergo ten sessions of acupuncture therapy with a licensed acupuncturist in addition to the standard of care.

Treatment:

Other: Olfactory Training

Device: Acupuncture Therapy

Drug: Budesonide

Standard of Care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects will be treated with two times daily budesonide rinses and olfactory (sense of smell) training. This is considered the current standard of care in the treatment of olfactory dysfunction.

Treatment:

Other: Olfactory Training

Drug: Budesonide