International Rhinologic Society Rhinology 0300-0729 2026 04 16 Relationship between olfactory function and quality of life in COVID-19 patients EN S. Winkelmann Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany M.A. Nasr Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany A. Korth Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany B. Voss Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany N. Behrend Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany P. Pudszuhn Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery and the Comprehensive Hearing Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany C. Maetzler Neurology Department, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany A. Hermes Institute of Epidemiology, Kiel University, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany K. Franzpoetter Institute of Epidemiology, Kiel University, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany A-K. Ruß Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany D. Pape Internal Medicine Department I, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany S. Störk Comprehensive Heart Failure Center and Dept. Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany F.A. MontellanoInstitute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Department of Neurology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany M. Witzenrath Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany T. KeilInstitute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany State Institute of Health I, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Erlangen, Germany M. Krawczak Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany W. Lieb Institute of Epidemiology, Kiel University, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany S. Schreiber Internal Medicine Department I, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany T. BahmerInternal Medicine Department I, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Grosshansdorf, Germany M. Laudien Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Kiel University, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany Journal Article 3453 10.4193/Rhin24.174 Background: COVID-19 is associated with multiple long-term impairments that negatively affect patients’ quality of life (QoL). Of these, olfactory dysfunction (OD), which is difficult to measure in practice, is likely to play an important role as it highly affects peoples’ QoL. Methods: In a population-based study, a total of 667 adult participants (mean age: 47 years) were examined nine months, on average, after positive PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2. Subjective olfactory function (OF) was quantified by means of a Visual Analogue Scales (OF-VAS). OF was tested by way of the Sniffin’ Sticks Test (SST). The self-reported Mini Olfactory Questionnaire (self-MOQ) was used to screen for OD. The brief (short) version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders - Negative Statements (sQOD-NS), the sinonasal outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22), the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), and the EuroQoL-VAS (EQVAS) were used to assess QoL. Results: Participants with SST-tested OD or with OF-VAS-based subjective OD were characterized by significantly higher self-MOQ scores. Diagnoses of OD by self-MOQ or SST were found to be strongly correlated. Moreover, both the TDI score and the OF-VAS score were negatively correlated with the self-MOQ score. In addition to a significant reduction of QoL in participants with tested OD, the four questionnaires used in the present study also consistently highlighted a significant negative correlation between QoL and both, self-MOQ and OF-VAS score.CONCLUSION: The self-MOQ is a sufficient screening tool for OD after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with persistent OD show signi-ficantly poorer QoL than those without. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Olfactory function can be assessed in patients with COVID-19 using a simple 5-item questionnaire (self-MOQ). Patients with OD show reduced QoL. CAPSULE SUMMARY: In our population-based cross-sectional study of 667 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, par-ticipants with persistent OD had significantly poorer OF-related QoL. The self-MOQ is a simple, valid and reliable means to screen OD in patients with COVID-19.