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Bell's Palsy and COVID-19: Insights from a Population-Based Analysis
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Bell's Palsy and COVID-19: Insights from a Population-Based Analysis

Divya Balchander, Claudia I. Cabrera, Hira Qureshi, Jaime A. Perez, Amanda Goslawski, Eve Tranchito, Benjamin R. Johnson, Akina Tamaki and Cyrus C. Rabbani
Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine, v 26(1), pp 41-46
01 Feb 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/fpsam.2022.0394
PMID: 37751178

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Surgery
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.

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