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Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Facial Plast Surg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2821-3495
Original Research

Management of Persistent COVID-19-Related Olfactory Dysfunction in the United Kingdom: A National Survey of Rhinology Practice, Prognosis and Treatments

Authors

  • Darren Rom 

    1   Otolaryngology, Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN158988)

  • Alfonso Luca Pendolino 

    2   Department of Rhinology & Facial Plastic Surgery, Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN158988)
    3   Department of Rhinology, UCL Ear Institute, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN4841)

  • Vikas Acharya

    4   Royal National ENT and EDH/UCLH and National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN8964)

  • Peter Andrews

    5   RHINOLOGY, UCL, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN4919)
    6   ENT, UCLH, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN8964)
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Introduction: The UK management of persistent COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction (C19OD) remains unclear. The magnitude of the problem is also unknown. Objectives: To quantify the prevalence of persistent C19OD, evaluate management practices, and track patient outcomes from referral to discharge. Methods: A nationwide online survey of UK rhinology clinicians examined clinical assessment, treatment, follow-up, referral patterns and prevalence. Responses were analysed descriptively. Results: Sixty-eight percent of clinicians responded. Most patients with persistent C19OD were managed in general Otolaryngology clinics (60.9%), with limited access to specialist smell services (8.7%). Formal olfactory testing was uncommon (15.8%) and nearly half of clinicians performed no structured assessment. Smell training and intranasal corticosteroids were the most frequent treatments. 62% of treated patients continued to have persistent C19OD and were discharged home without a further treatment plan. Conclusion: UK Management of persistent C19OD remains inconsistent with only 15.8% being formally tested for their smell loss. 62% of treated patients remained symptomatic with persistent C19OD and subsequently discharged home without a treatment plan. Improved access to standardised tertiary referral centres is recommended enabling better access to novel treatments.



Publication History

Received: 04 February 2026

Accepted: 24 February 2026

Accepted Manuscript online:
27 February 2026

© . The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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