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Aim: Smell disorders are frequent symptoms of COVID-19 disease. This systematic review covers the pathophysiology, diagnostics, prognostic significance, and treatment of COVID-19 related smell disorders. Methods: The articles were selected in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria were: 1. peer-reviewed publications; 2. studies on human subjects; 3. studies published in English or Czech; and 4. used filters: meta-analysis/systematic review/randomized controlled trial. The exclusion criteria were: 1. abstracts from conferences; 2. commentaries; and 3. inclusion of subjects younger than 18 years. The databases PubMed and Web of Science were searched. Using the search term “anosmia OR smell loss OR smell disorders OR dysosmia OR parosmia AND COVID-19”, 157 papers were selected for analysis, with 109 being ruled out based on the exclusion criteria. The full texts and their references were obtained and studied, and the references meeting the inclusion criteria were also included in this review, leading to a total of 68 papers selected for the review. Results: Approximately 60% of patients with COVID-19 disease present with smell disorders. Most studies agree anosmia appears more frequently in the mild course of the disease. The inflammation and demyelination of the olfactory nerve fibres probably play a key role in the pathogenesis. Damage to the supporting cells of the olfactory epithelium may also play an important role. Olfactory disorder may persist over a varying period of time after the resolution of the acute phase of COVID-19. Olfactory training seems to be beneficial in the treatment. The data regarding the effi cacy of topical corticosteroids are inconsistent. No other drugs have yet demonstrated a clinical effect. Conclusion: Loss of smell is a common accompanying symptom in mostly mild forms of COVID-19. Olfactory training seems to be effective in treating this dysfunction. Pharmacotherapy (including local and systemic corticosteroids) has not yet proven eff ective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic affected all parts of the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to assess the pandemics effect on sleep medicine in the Czech Republic (CZE) and Slovakia (SVK). Methods: A questionnaire based study, in which where 23 sleep departments (SD) (16 CZE; 7 SVK) were included between May 5, 2020 and May 17, 2020. Results: The service was completely interrupted in 43.5% SD. The sum of estimated missed sleep studies in responding SD was 1,100 and the sum of missed positive airway pressure titrations was 580. When considering the response rate of the questionnaire through extrapolation, it is estimated that about 1,900 sleep studies and 1,000 positive airway pressure titrations were not performed in the region of the CZE and SVK because of COVID-19. The situation is unlikely to improve soon, as 59.1% of SD do not expect to meet the same number of diagnosed/treated patients as in 2019 (53.3% CZE; 71.4% SVK) and about 34.8% of SD will not restart their activity by the end of May 2020 or will run with a very limited capacity (23.5% CZE; 57.1% SVK). Conclusion: Sleep medicine in the CZE and SVK was heavily affected by COVID-19 and the loss of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures may be considered as one of pandemic "collateral damages". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]