COVID-19 Anosmia Study

NCT ID: NCT04495816

Last Updated: 2023-10-23

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

139 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-07-15

Study Completion Date

2021-12-31

Brief Summary

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To capture the natural history of COVID-19 associated olfactory dysfunction as measured by two patient reported outcome measures (SNOT-22, QOD-NS) and a 6-week BSIT with a comparison to an intervention arm receiving daily omega-3 supplements.

Detailed Description

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Infection with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been linked to new-onset olfactory dysfunction, often as the only presenting symptom. In one multicenter European study, 85.6% of patients with mild to moderate symptoms reported hyposmia or anosmia with early recovery of olfactory function in just under half of patients. However, the pathogenesis and natural history of COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction is poorly understood.

Anosmia most commonly arises in association with sinonasal disease or post-infectious or post-traumatic disorders. Notably, olfactory loss has been associated with impaired quality of life, higher rates of depression, and even increased mortality risk. Spontaneous recovery has been observed in patients with post- infectious olfactory dysfunction, typically over a period of months to years, with an estimated one-third of patients demonstrating meaningful improvement after one year.

Smell retraining therapy appears to be an effective therapeutic option for patients with post-infectious olfactory dysfunction, particularly for patients who initiate treatment within one year from onset of symptoms, but requires an intervention period of at least three to four months. Various pharmacotherapies have been investigated in the treatment of post-infectious anosmia but none have clearly demonstrated utility with the exception of a possible benefit for nasal steroid irrigations in combination with smell retraining therapy.

More recently, omega-3 polyunsaturated fat supplementation has emerged as a promising pharmacotherapy for olfactory dysfunction in patients without sinonasal disease. Omega-3 fatty acid deficient mice demonstrate evidence of olfactory dysfunction and mice receiving omega-3 fatty acids have improved recovery after peripheral nerve injury, which has been linked to neuroprotective effects mediated through anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways. In humans, a large cross-sectional study found that older adults with higher dietary fat intake had lower incidence of olfactory impairment. From a clinical perspective, patients without sinonasal disease receiving postoperative omega-3 fatty acid supplementation after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery in a randomized control trial demonstrated a significantly greater rate of return of normal olfactory dysfunction.

Little is known about either the natural history of olfactory dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection or about the therapeutic efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with post-viral anosmia. The study team hopes to gain a better understanding of each through a randomized double-blind placebo control study that assesses both objective and subjective perception of olfactory dysfunction over a period of 6 weeks after infection.

Conditions

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Anosmia Covid19

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Patients will be randomized into treatment and control groups. The treatment group will receive omega-3-fatty acid supplementation (1000 mg of omega-3 fatty acid blend including 683 mg Eicosapentaenoic Acid and 252 mg Docosahexaenoic Acid) to be taken twice daily for 6 weeks. The control arm will receive a placebo pill to be taken twice daily.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators
The healthcare providers interacting with the patients, as well as the participants themselves, will not know which arm they have been assigned to. Only the research fellows will have access to the randomization scheme.

Study Groups

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Omega-3

1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acid (2 softgels per day for 6 weeks)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplement

Intervention Type DRUG

Participants randomized to this arm will be instructed to take two of the softgels they received per day for 6 weeks. They will receive softgels containing 1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acid. 1000 mg of omega-3 fatty acid blend including 683 mg Eicosapentaenoic Acid and 252 mg Docosahexaenoic Acid

Placebo/Control

2 softgels per day for 6 weeks

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Placebo/Control

Intervention Type DRUG

Patients randomized to this arm will also be instructed to take two of the softgels they received per day for 6 weeks. They will receive placebo softgels that are indistinguishable from those containing fish oil.

Interventions

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Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplement

Participants randomized to this arm will be instructed to take two of the softgels they received per day for 6 weeks. They will receive softgels containing 1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acid. 1000 mg of omega-3 fatty acid blend including 683 mg Eicosapentaenoic Acid and 252 mg Docosahexaenoic Acid

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo/Control

Patients randomized to this arm will also be instructed to take two of the softgels they received per day for 6 weeks. They will receive placebo softgels that are indistinguishable from those containing fish oil.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults (18 years of age or older) with self-reported new-onset olfactory dysfunction
* Positive COVID-19 diagnosis will be deemed eligible for inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients \<18 years of age
* Patients who are unable to provide informed consent
* Patients without a positive COVID-19 PCR result obtained through nasopharyngeal swab - Patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis but without self-reported anosmia
* Patients with severe COVID-19 disease as defined by the Mouth Sinai Health System Treatment Guidelines for SARS-COV-2 (requiring high flow nasal cannula, non-rebreather, CPAP/BIPAP, or mechanical ventilation OR patients requiring pressor medication OR patients with evidence of end organ damage)
* Patients with pre-existing self-reported olfactory dysfunction
* Patients with a history of chronic nasal/sinus infections (rhinosinusitis) or history of endoscopic sinus surgery
* Patients using nasal steroid sprays or irrigations for any reason
* Patients who are prisoners of the state
* Patients who have psychiatric or developmental disorder conditions that may impair ability to provide informed consent
* Patients will also be excluded if they have an allergy to fish or an omega-3 supplement, or do not eat fish or fish- containing substances for any reason
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Alfred-Marc Iloreta

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Alfred-Marc Iloreta, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Locations

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Mount Sinai Hospital

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Vaira LA, Salzano G, Deiana G, De Riu G. Anosmia and Ageusia: Common Findings in COVID-19 Patients. Laryngoscope. 2020 Jul;130(7):1787. doi: 10.1002/lary.28692. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32237238 (View on PubMed)

Fonteyn S, Huart C, Deggouj N, Collet S, Eloy P, Rombaux P. Non-sinonasal-related olfactory dysfunction: A cohort of 496 patients. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2014 Apr;131(2):87-91. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2013.03.006. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24679542 (View on PubMed)

Hendriks AP. Olfactory dysfunction. Rhinology. 1988 Dec;26(4):229-51.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3070710 (View on PubMed)

Eliezer M, Hautefort C, Hamel AL, Verillaud B, Herman P, Houdart E, Eloit C. Sudden and Complete Olfactory Loss of Function as a Possible Symptom of COVID-19. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jul 1;146(7):674-675. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2020.0832. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32267483 (View on PubMed)

Croy I, Nordin S, Hummel T. Olfactory disorders and quality of life--an updated review. Chem Senses. 2014 Mar;39(3):185-94. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjt072. Epub 2014 Jan 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24429163 (View on PubMed)

Reden J, Herting B, Lill K, Kern R, Hummel T. Treatment of postinfectious olfactory disorders with minocycline: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Laryngoscope. 2011 Mar;121(3):679-82. doi: 10.1002/lary.21401. Epub 2011 Feb 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21287560 (View on PubMed)

Vukkadala N, Qian ZJ, Holsinger FC, Patel ZM, Rosenthal E. COVID-19 and the Otolaryngologist: Preliminary Evidence-Based Review. Laryngoscope. 2020 Nov;130(11):2537-2543. doi: 10.1002/lary.28672. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32219846 (View on PubMed)

Ekstrom I, Sjolund S, Nordin S, Nordin Adolfsson A, Adolfsson R, Nilsson LG, Larsson M, Olofsson JK. Smell Loss Predicts Mortality Risk Regardless of Dementia Conversion. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017 Jun;65(6):1238-1243. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14770. Epub 2017 Mar 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28326534 (View on PubMed)

Sorokowska A, Drechsler E, Karwowski M, Hummel T. Effects of olfactory training: a meta-analysis. Rhinology. 2017 Mar 1;55(1):17-26. doi: 10.4193/Rhino16.195.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28040824 (View on PubMed)

Lechien JR, Chiesa-Estomba CM, De Siati DR, Horoi M, Le Bon SD, Rodriguez A, Dequanter D, Blecic S, El Afia F, Distinguin L, Chekkoury-Idrissi Y, Hans S, Delgado IL, Calvo-Henriquez C, Lavigne P, Falanga C, Barillari MR, Cammaroto G, Khalife M, Leich P, Souchay C, Rossi C, Journe F, Hsieh J, Edjlali M, Carlier R, Ris L, Lovato A, De Filippis C, Coppee F, Fakhry N, Ayad T, Saussez S. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions as a clinical presentation of mild-to-moderate forms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a multicenter European study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Aug;277(8):2251-2261. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-05965-1. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32253535 (View on PubMed)

Cavazzana A, Larsson M, Munch M, Hahner A, Hummel T. Postinfectious olfactory loss: A retrospective study on 791 patients. Laryngoscope. 2018 Jan;128(1):10-15. doi: 10.1002/lary.26606. Epub 2017 May 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28556265 (View on PubMed)

Pekala K, Chandra RK, Turner JH. Efficacy of olfactory training in patients with olfactory loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2016 Mar;6(3):299-307. doi: 10.1002/alr.21669. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26624966 (View on PubMed)

Boesveldt S, Postma EM, Boak D, Welge-Luessen A, Schopf V, Mainland JD, Martens J, Ngai J, Duffy VB. Anosmia-A Clinical Review. Chem Senses. 2017 Sep 1;42(7):513-523. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjx025.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28531300 (View on PubMed)

Reden J, Mueller A, Mueller C, Konstantinidis I, Frasnelli J, Landis BN, Hummel T. Recovery of olfactory function following closed head injury or infections of the upper respiratory tract. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006 Mar;132(3):265-9. doi: 10.1001/archotol.132.3.265.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16549746 (View on PubMed)

Damm M, Pikart LK, Reimann H, Burkert S, Goktas O, Haxel B, Frey S, Charalampakis I, Beule A, Renner B, Hummel T, Huttenbrink KB. Olfactory training is helpful in postinfectious olfactory loss: a randomized, controlled, multicenter study. Laryngoscope. 2014 Apr;124(4):826-31. doi: 10.1002/lary.24340. Epub 2013 Sep 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23929687 (View on PubMed)

Lerner D, Garvey K, Arrighi-Allisan A, Filimonov A, Filip P, Liu K, Ninan S, Schaberg M, Colley P, Del Signore A, Govindaraj S, Iloreta AM. Letter to the editor: Study Summary - Randomized Control Trial of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for the Treatment of COVID-19 Related Olfactory Dysfunction. Trials. 2020 Nov 23;21(1):942. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04905-y.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33225989 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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GCO 20-1132

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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