tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med
. 2023 Sep 25.
doi: 10.1089/fpsam.2022.0394. Online ahead of print. Bell's Palsy and COVID-19: Insights from a Population-Based Analysis
Divya Balchander[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Claudia I Cabrera[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Hira Qureshi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jaime A Perez[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Amanda Goslawski[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Eve Tranchito[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Benjamin R Johnson[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Akina Tamaki[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Cyrus C Rabbani[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been linked to Bell's palsy and facial paralysis. Studies have also shown increased risk of Bell's palsy in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Objective: To compare the relationship between Bell's palsy and COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Design: This is a retrospective longitudinal study. Methods: The COVID-19 research network was used to identify patients with facial palsy presenting to 70 health care organizations in the United States. The incidence of Bell's palsy was measured within an 8-week window after COVID-19 test or vaccination event in identified patients. Results: Incidence of facial palsy diagnosis (0.99%) was higher than the background rate within 2 months of COVID-19 infection. When compared with their negative counterparts, patients with COVID-19 infection had significantly higher risk of Bell's palsy (risk ratio [RR] = 1.77, p < 0.01) and facial weakness (RR = 2.28, p < 0.01). Risk ratio was also amplified when evaluating Bell's palsy (RR = 12.57, p < 0.01) and facial palsy (RR = 44.43; p < 0.01) in COVID-19-infected patients against patients who received COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: In our patient population, there is a higher risk of developing facial palsy within 2 months of COVID-19 infection versus vaccination. Vaccinated patients are not at higher risk of developing facial palsy.
. 2023 Sep 25.
doi: 10.1089/fpsam.2022.0394. Online ahead of print. Bell's Palsy and COVID-19: Insights from a Population-Based Analysis
Divya Balchander[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Claudia I Cabrera[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Hira Qureshi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jaime A Perez[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Amanda Goslawski[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Eve Tranchito[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Benjamin R Johnson[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Akina Tamaki[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Cyrus C Rabbani[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37751178
- DOI: 10.1089/fpsam.2022.0394
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been linked to Bell's palsy and facial paralysis. Studies have also shown increased risk of Bell's palsy in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Objective: To compare the relationship between Bell's palsy and COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Design: This is a retrospective longitudinal study. Methods: The COVID-19 research network was used to identify patients with facial palsy presenting to 70 health care organizations in the United States. The incidence of Bell's palsy was measured within an 8-week window after COVID-19 test or vaccination event in identified patients. Results: Incidence of facial palsy diagnosis (0.99%) was higher than the background rate within 2 months of COVID-19 infection. When compared with their negative counterparts, patients with COVID-19 infection had significantly higher risk of Bell's palsy (risk ratio [RR] = 1.77, p < 0.01) and facial weakness (RR = 2.28, p < 0.01). Risk ratio was also amplified when evaluating Bell's palsy (RR = 12.57, p < 0.01) and facial palsy (RR = 44.43; p < 0.01) in COVID-19-infected patients against patients who received COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: In our patient population, there is a higher risk of developing facial palsy within 2 months of COVID-19 infection versus vaccination. Vaccinated patients are not at higher risk of developing facial palsy.