New loss of smell and taste: Uncommon symptoms in COVID-19 patients in Nord Franche-Comte cluster, France

{Background: New loss of smell or taste was not included among the common symptoms of COVID-19 until March 2020 when the pandemic started in Western countries. We aim to describe the prevalence and features of anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the clinical features of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nord Franche-Comte Hospital, Trevenans, France, between March, 1st and March, 14th 2020. We used SARS-CoV-2 real-time RT-PCR in respiratory samples to confirm the cases. Results: Of the 70 patients enrolled, the mean age was 57.0 years, and 29 patients (41%) were men. Median Charlson comorbidity index was 1.70 (+/- 2.5). Twenty-seven (39%) patients had pneumonia. Fatigue (93% [65]), cough (80%[55]), and fever (77%[54]) were the three main symptoms. Neurologic symptoms were present in more than half of the patients: anosmia (53%[37]) and dysgeusia (48%[34]). The mean duration of anosmia was 7.4 (+/- 5, [1-21]) days, and 51% (36/70) of patients recovered before 28 days of evolution. Only one patient with anosmia had not recovered at the end of the follow-up. Patients with anosmia had pneumonia less often (10/37 vs 17/33