310 - Post-partum olfactory dysfunction and mother-infant bonding amongst women with and without prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infections

Poster Number: 310
Publication Number: 310.408

Maha Hussain, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, NEW YORK, NY, United States; Margaret Kyle, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Diego R. Alvarez Vega, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Kaylee Fisher, Columbia College of Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Grace Smotrich, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Winthrop, MA, United States; Jonathan Overdevest, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Dani DUMITRIU, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States

Background: Previous studies have suggested that olfaction is critical to post-partum mother-infant bonding. Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common symptom in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Current evidence indicates that up to 80% of patients report subjective OD, with objective olfactory testing suggesting even higher levels of dysfunction. Many continue to experience OD even after recovering from infection. Pregnancy is also associated with OD. There is a need to understand the overlapping effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pregnancy on postpartum olfaction.

Objective: We compare the effects of objective post-partum olfactory function on mother-infant bonding amongst women with and without prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Design/Methods: We assessed post-partum olfactory dysfunction and mother-infant bonding in a subset of 371 women (120 with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 251 without infection) enrolled in the COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes (COMBO) Study. Participants completed objective olfactory testing (University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT)) and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) within six months post-partum.

Results: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models adjusting for SARS-CoV-2 infection, maternal age, ethnicity, parity, infant gestational age, and infant sex demonstrated that women with normosmia were more likely to have higher PBQ factor 1 scores than women with mild, moderate, or severe microsmia (6.0±3.7 normosmia vs. 5.2±4 mild microsmia vs. 5.2±4.2 moderate microsmia vs. 4.1 ±3.8 severe microsmia, F(1,296)=4.38; p=0.037). There were no significant differences in PBQ factors 3 and 4 between groups.

Conclusion(s): PBQ factor 1 scores were higher in women without any form of microsmia, suggesting that there may be subtle differences in bonding between groups.