The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Bell’s Palsy and Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e140
- Author:
Min Young KWAK
1
;
Ho Yun LEE
;
Se A LEE
;
Junhui JEONG
;
Jae Ho CHUNG
;
Jin KIM
;
Beom Cho JUN
;
Seung-Geun YEO
;
Sang Hoon KIM
;
Jong Dae LEE
Author Information
1. The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2024;39(16):e140-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:EN
-
Abstract:
Background:This article presents a comprehensive review of data on the impact of facial palsy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The possible causes and pathophysiological mechanisms of changes in the epidemiology of facial palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed.
Methods:This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 943 patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This study compared patient demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, and treatments before the COVID-19 pandemic (from 2017 to 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2020 to 2022).
Results:Following the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases of Bell’s palsy, particularly among elderly individuals with diabetes. Bell’s palsy increased after the COVID-19 outbreak, rising from 75.3% in the pre-COVID-19 era to 83.6% after the COVID-19 outbreak. The complete recovery rate decreased from 88.2% to 73.9%, and the rate of recurrence increased from 2.9% to 7.5% in patients with Bell’s palsy.Ramsay Hunt syndrome showed fewer changes in clinical outcomes.
Conclusion:This study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and management of facial palsy, and suggests potential associations with COVID-19.Notably, the observed increase in Bell’s palsy cases among elderly individuals with diabetes emphasizes the impact of the pandemic. Identifying the epidemiological changes in facial palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic has important implications for assessing its etiology and pathological mechanisms of facial palsy disease.
