Treatment of Postviral Olfactory Dysfunction

Karolinska Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hyposmia

Treatments: Device: Nose plug; Other: Regular olfactory training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06142565

2023-03779-01

2021-06527 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

A decreased sense of smell (hyposmia) is often caused by viral infections, such as COVID-19. Today, the only recommended treatment for hyposmia is olfactory training, a time consuming method with limitations in terms of both compliance and effect. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate, as well as optimize, a new treatment method for olfactory loss.

Hyposmic participants will be recruited and randomized into two different treatment conditions. One group will do regular olfactory training and the other will do passive olfactory training with scented nose plugs. The training will be conducted in the home of the individual monday through friday for two consecutive months. Subjective and objectvie measures of olfactory problems will be assessed before and after treatment, as well as subjective measures related to quality of live and genereal wellbeing.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 - 65 years old
• Physically and cognitively capable of participating in the study
• Having appropriate olfactory screening test scores (hyposmic)

Exclusion criteria

• Anosmics
• Individuals with other diagnoses that could affect the study results

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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120 participants in 2 patient groups

Olfactory training with nose plugs

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will complete olfactory training with scented nose plugs.

Treatment:

Device: Nose plug

Olfactory training with household odors

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will complete olfactory training with odors found in their household.

Treatment:

Other: Regular olfactory training