Anosmia Remains the #1 Coronavirus Symptom in the UK

A new study published by The Lancet on November 3, 2020, used data from the COVID Symptoms Study app, which now has more than 4 million users in the UK, confirmed that the loss of smell (anosmia) is still the single most predictive symptom of a positive COVID-19 swab test across different age groups. These researchers suggest that those people with new-onset anosmia should self-isolate and seek testing services.

This study found the odds ratios ranging from 13.67 (95% CI 11·65–16·02) for the older group, to 20.86 (18·62–23·4) for the younger group.

Anosmia was added to Public Health England's COVID-19 case definition on May 18, 2020.