Study Finds Half of COVID Smell Loss Persists

A VCU School of Medicine preliminary report tracked smell recovery in COVID-19 patients over five years after initial infection.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in COVID-19

Small unlabeled amber vials on a pale laboratory bench beside a wooden tray, lit by soft window daylight in a quiet research space. — Over half of people who lost their sense of smell to COVID-19 still had smell dysfunction five years after infection, according to a Virginia Commonwealth University study. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you think most people who lost their sense of smell from COVID fully recover it?

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine published a preliminary report in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery on COVID-19 smell loss recovery. Over half of respondents still had smell dysfunction five years after their initial infection.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that smell loss linked to COVID-19 can be long-lasting, with recovery appearing to level off after about two years. Researchers emphasized the need for more targeted therapies for smell dysfunction.

The five-year follow-up surveyed 419 respondents, with 44.2% reporting complete recovery, 48.4% partial recovery, and 7.4% no recovery, compared with a two-year follow-up of 267 respondents that showed 38.2% complete recovery. Researchers have not yet identified the specific mechanisms behind the plateau in recovery after the two-year window.

The players

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

The Richmond-based medical school of Virginia Commonwealth University, a public research institution with a major academic medical center.

The details

The study surveyed over 2,000 adults who tested positive for COVID-19 and reported smell loss in 2020, then conducted follow-up surveys at two and five years. VCU describes it as the longest study on COVID-19 related smell loss recovery.

2020: Initial survey of over 2,000 adults who reported smell loss.
Two years after initial reports: Follow-up survey of 267 respondents.
Late 2025: Five-year follow-up survey of 419 respondents.
November 15, 2026: Preliminary report published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Health Landscape

The VCU study extends its own two-year follow-up by tracking recovery through five years, placing long-term COVID-19 smell loss within the wider post-pandemic research on lingering symptoms. The findings indicate that a substantial share of patients may need treatment options beyond natural recovery.

Patients who lost their sense of smell to COVID-19 may find recovery is incomplete even after several years. The findings suggest that waiting may not restore smell fully, so affected people may want to discuss options with a clinician.

The takeaway

Smell loss after COVID-19 can persist for years, with roughly half of affected people still reporting partial or no recovery at five years. Anyone with ongoing smell changes should raise them with a healthcare provider.