Resumo Introdução A perda súbita do olfato é um novo sintoma relacionado à COVID-19, porém com poucos dados sobre sua duração ou resolução. Objetivo Caracterizar pacientes que apresentaram perda súbita do olfato durante a pandemia da COVID-19 e em especial a sua recuperação. Método Pesquisa online desenvolvida pela Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial e Academia Brasileira de Rinologia direcionado aos médicos que atenderam pacientes com perda súbita do olfato com início após 1° de fevereiro de 2020. Os participantes foram questionados posteriormente por e-mail, para verificar os dados sobre a recuperação da perda súbita do olfato e teste para COVID-19, no final do período de coleta de dados. Resultados Foram incluídos 253 pacientes com perda súbita de olfato, 59,1% mulheres e idade mediana de 36 anos, acompanhados por 31 dias (mediana). Testagem para COVID-19 foi feita em 183 (72,3%) pacientes, 145 (79,2%) positivos e 38 (20,8%) negativos. COVID-19 positivos apresentaram sintomas inflamatórios inespecíficos mais frequentemente (89,7% vs. 73,7%; p = 0,02); menor taxa de recuperação total da perda súbita do olfato (52,6% vs. 70,3%; p = 0,05) e maior tempo para atingir a recuperação total (15 dias vs. 10 dias; p = 0,0006) comparados aos COVID-19 negativos. Considerando somente COVID-19 positivos, hiposmia súbita apresentou melhoria total mais frequentemente do que anosmia súbita (68,4% vs. 50,0%; p = 0,04). Conclusão A perda súbita do olfato em pacientes COVID-19 positivos apresentou menor taxa de recuperação total e duração mais prolongada do que em Covid-19 negativos. E a hiposmia súbita apresentou recuperação total mais frequentemente do que a anosmia súbita em COVID-19 positivos.

Abstract Introduction Sudden olfactory dysfunction is a new symptom related to COVID-19, with little data on its duration or recovery rate. Objective To characterize patients with sudden olfactory dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially their recovery data. Methods An online survey was conducted by the Brazilian Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervico-Facial Surgery, and Brazilian Academy of Rhinology, including doctors who assessed sudden olfactory dysfunction patients starting after February 1st, 2020. Participants were posteriorly asked by e-mail to verify data on the recovery of sudden olfactory loss and test for COVID-19 at the end of the data collection period. Results 253 sudden olfactory dysfunction patients were included, of which 59.1% were females with median age of 36 years, with a median follow-up period of 31 days. 183 patients (72.3%) had been tested for COVID-19, and of those 145 (79.2%) tested positive. Patients that tested positive for COVID-19 more frequently showed non-specific inflammatory symptoms (89.7% vs. 73.7%; p = 0.02), a lower rate of total recovery of sudden olfactory dysfunction (52.6% vs. 70.3%; p = 0.05) and a longer duration to achieve total recovery (15 days vs. 10 days; p = 0.0006) than the ones who tested negative for COVID-19. Considering only positive-COVID-19 patients, individuals with sudden hyposmia completely recovered more often than the ones with sudden anosmia (68.4% vs. 50.0%; p = 0.04). Conclusion Positive-COVID-19 patients with sudden olfactory dysfunction showed lower total recovery rate and longer duration than negative-COVID-19 patients. Additionally, total recovery was seen more frequently in positive-COVID-19 patients with sudden hyposmia than the ones with sudden anosmia.

Resumo: Introdução: Estamos diante de uma pandemia de grande impacto mundial como resultado da rápida propagação do novo coronavírus, COVID-19. A comunidade médica está ainda conhecendo o comportamento desse vírus e as repercussões do ponto de vista populacional. Todo esse conhecimento é extremamente dinâmico, por isso algumas condutas ainda não estão bem estabelecidas. O otorrinolaringologista tem um papel central no manejo dessa situação em que deve avaliar o paciente e evitar a contaminação dos profissionais da saúde e dos demais pacientes. Dessa forma, as recomendações da Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial (ABORL-CCF) têm por objetivo principal reduzir a propagação do novo coronavírus durante o atendimento otorrinolaringológico e auxiliar no manejo desses pacientes. Método: Revisão das principais recomendações das sociedades científicas nacionais, internacionais, decisões de órgãos governamentais e de conselhos de classe. Os tópicos serão relativos aos aspectos gerais do COVID-19, equipamentos de proteção individual, cuidados no atendimento ao paciente, as rotinas dos exames endoscópicos e o manejo de aspectos nasossinusais, otológicos e pediátricos relacionados ao COVID-19. Resultados: É considerado crucial o uso de equipamento de proteção individual no atendimento otorrinolaringológico de rotina. Recomendamos postergar atendimentos, exames e cirurgias eletivas para diminuir a propagação do COVID-19. Da mesma forma, recomendamos mudança de rotinas em diversas áreas da otorrinolaringologia. Além disso, orientações sobre o uso do recurso da telemedicina durante o período de vigência da pandemia. Conclusões: Estamos ainda no início da pandemia do COVID-19 e as evidências científicas são ainda escassas, por isso essas recomendações da ABORL-CCF para os otorrinolaringologistas podem sofrer atualizações baseadas nos novos conhecimentos e no padrão de disseminação do novo coronavírus.

Abstract Introduction: We are facing a pandemic with a great impact worldwide, as a result of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The medical community is still getting to know behavior of this virus and the consequences from a population point of view. All this knowledge is extremely dynamic, so some behaviors are still not well established. Otorhinolaryngologists have a central role in the management of this situation, in which they must assess the patient, avoid contamination to and by health professionals and other patients. Thus, the recommendations of the Brazilian Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervical-Facial Surgery (ABORL-CCF) have the main objective of reducing the spread of the new coronavirus during otorhinolaryngological care and assisting in the management of these patients. Methods: Review of the main recommendations of national and international scientific societies, decisions by government agencies and class councils. The topics will be related to the general aspects of COVID-19, personal protective equipment, care in patient assistance, endoscopic exam routines and the management of sinonasal, otological and pediatric evaluations related to COVID-19. Results: The use of personal protective equipment is considered crucial in routine ENT care. We recommend postponing appointments, exams and elective surgeries to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Similarly, we recommend changing routines in several areas of otolaryngology. Additionally, guidance is provided on the use of telemedicine resources during the pandemic period. Conclusions: We are still at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and scientific evidence is still scarce and incomplete, so these ABORL-CCF recommendations for otorhinolaryngologists may be updated based on new knowledge and the pattern of the new coronavirus spread.

OBJECTIVE: To compare sleepiness scores of the Epworth scale in patients with different levels of arterial pressure when undergoing outpatient monitoring within the context of clinical evaluation. METHODS: A total of 157 patients selected for outpatient monitoring of arterial pressure during hypertension evaluation were divided into 3 groups: group 1 - normotensive; group 2 - hypertensive; group 3 - resistant hypertensive. For analysis, values > or = 11 were considered as associated with respiratory disturbances during sleep. RESULTS: Seventeen (10.8%) patients in group 1, 112 (71.3%) in group 2, and 28 (17.8%) in group 3, which was composed of aged, more severely hypertensive individuals, were analyzed. Groups were similar relative to sex and body mass index, but different in relation to systolic and diastolic pressure levels and age. Despite an absolute difference, no statistically significant difference occurred between Epworth scores and in the proportion of patients with values > or = 11 (5.9% vs. 18.8% vs. 212.4%; P=0.37). Despite the positive association between degree of sleepiness measured with the scale and the severity of the hypertension, no statistical significance occurred following control by age (p=0.18). CONCLUSION: A positive correlation exists between degree of sleepiness and hypertension severity. The absence of a statistical significance shown in the present study could be due to a beta type of error. Instruments that render this complaint into an objective finding could help in the pursuit of an investigation of respiratory disturbances during sleep in more severely hypertensive patients, and should therefore be studied better.