Five-Year Longitudinal Assessment of Self-reported COVID-19-Related Chemosensory Dysfunction

This study presents a five-year follow-up of 436 patients who experienced mild COVID-19 in early 2020, focusing on long-term smell and taste dysfunction. At the onset, 66.7% reported altered chemosensory perception. Although most recovered over time, 7.6% still reported dysfunction after five years. Recovery rates steadily improved, reaching 91.1% among those initially affected. Despite the improvements, persistent symptoms remain a concern for a subset of patients, highlighting ongoing quality-of-life and safety issues. The study underscores the need for long-term monitoring and potential rehabilitation strategies for chemosensory dysfunction. Limitations include self-reported data, no objective testing, and focus on pre-Omicron infections.