Global Journal of Medical Research, L: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 22 Issue 2

Comparison of Taste and Smell Test Results Before and After COVID-19 in Yakumo Residents Health Checkup Comparison between 2019 and 2022 Naomi Katayama Abstract- Since August 2007, the authors have conducted health checkups for residents of Yakumo Town, Hokkaido, over three days yearly, with approximately 600 people. However, in 2020 and 2021, we were could not receive a health checkup data to the influence of the new coronavirus. But, in August 2022, we were finally able to obtain the results of taste and smell tests. Therefore, in this study, we compare the taste and smell test results obtained in August 2019 (before the COVID- 19 epidemic) and in August 2022 (after the COVID-19 epidemic). Taste and smell were measured using a simple test kit, and height, weight, and blood pressure were also obtained. 129 males and 169 females participated in 2019 and 142 males and 202 females participated in 2022. Each result was compared by age group (the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s). As our results, there were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, height, weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and salty taste test results in each age group between 2019 and 2022 (unpaired student t-test or Mann-Whitney test). However, the olfactory test results were statistically significantly lower in 2022 than in 2019. Keywords: simple salty taste test, simple olfactory test, resident medical examination, age group. I. I ntroduction rom 2007 to 2019, every August in Yakumo Town, Hokkaido, the authors examined the sense of taste and olfactory tests during a health checkup for residents 1-12) . However, in 2020 and 2021, we could not undergo a medical examination due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As the COVID-19 epidemic has subsided, this fiscal year (August 2022), Hokkaido, August. We obtained the taste and smell test results during the health checkup for the residents of Yakumo Town. Therefore, we compared the taste and smell test results obtained in 2019 and the taste and smell test results obtained in 2022. Author: Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nagoya Women's University. e-mail: naomik@nagoya-wu.ac.jp I decided to confirm whether or not there was an impact of COVID-19 by comparing two data. II. M aterial and M ethod Among the participants in the health checkup for Yakumo town residents were measured for height, weight, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), salty taste tests, and olfactory tests. There were 298 subjects (129 males 169 females) in 2019. And there were 344 subjects (142 males, 202 females) in 2022. Survey items comparing 2019 and 2022 are age, height, weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, the results of a simple olfactory test, and the results of a simple salty taste test. The results of the simple salty taste test were performed by using Salsive (manufactured by Advantech). The Salsive is the filter paper. Salsive comes in 6 different salt concentrations (0.6% 0.8%, 1.0% 1.2%, 1.4%, 1.6%). Participants put Salsive in their mouth to check the salty taste. Concentration was recorded when participants perceived salty teste 13) . The results of the simple olfactory test were performed using an odor stick (Daiichi Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd.). Twelve kinds of odors are applied to the filter paper (Japanese ink, wood, perfume, menthol, mandarin orange, curry, household gas, roses, cypress, stuffy socks/sweaty, condensed milk, fried garlic). The number of odors perceived by participants was recorded. The obtained data were statistically processed by sex and age groups. 2019 and 2022 data were F-tested, and the results were either unpaired Student-t test or Mann. Whitney test was performed to confirm the presence or absence of statistical significance. a) Ethical review board This study conducted with the approval of the Ethical Review Board (Nagoya women’s University Ethics Committee: “hitowomochiitakennkyuuni- kannsuruiinnkai”). The approval number is 2019-26. F 21 Year 2022 Global Journal of Medical Research Volume XXII Issue II Version I ( D ) L © 2022 Global Journals Taste and smell tests were conducted on the study participants, and the results have been reported.