A study published in the journal BMJ showed that women are less likely to recover their sense of smell and taste after a COVID infection than men. The researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) stated that they spoke to a patient who complained that she has yet to recover her sense of smell, even though it has been over 27 months since the initial infection.

According to the researchers, patients with greater severity of smell loss and those with nasal congestion were also more likely to recover their sense of smell than women. They stated that the loss of smell occurs due to conductive barriers and nerve damage from extensive inflammation caused by COVID infection. They added that while most of the patients may recover their sense of smell or taste within three months, a major group of patients might develop lasting dysfunction that requires timely identification, personalized treatment, and long-term follow-up.

The study included patients from 18 centers, out of which 4 of the studies were conducted in a community setting and 14 were conducted in a hospital setting. The study showed that, out of 3,699 patients, 5.6% of the patients reported a persistent loss of smell, while 4.4 percent of the patients did not recover their sense of taste. At least 30 days after initial infection, only 74% and 79% of patients reported recovery of smell and taste, respectively. The study also showed that the recovery rates increased with each passing month, reaching a peak of 96% for smell and 98% for taste after 6 months. 

(Source: https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/article/with-long-covid-19-women-more-likely-to-have-smell-taste-problems-research-23238529 )