Risk of Bell's palsy following SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide cohort study
- Authors
- Kim, Hye Jun; Jeong, Seogsong; Song, Jihun; Park, Sun Jae; Oh, Yun Hwan; Jung, Jaehun; Choi, Nam-Kyong; Park, Sang Min
- Issue Date
- Dec-2023
- Publisher
- ELSEVIER SCI LTD
- Keywords
- Bell's palsy; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccine; Mass screening; Public health; SARS-CoV-2
- Citation
- CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, v.29, no.12, pp 1581 - 1586
- Pages
- 6
- Journal Title
- CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
- Volume
- 29
- Number
- 12
- Start Page
- 1581
- End Page
- 1586
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/gachon/handle/2020.sw.gachon/89930
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.014
- ISSN
- 1198-743X
1469-0691
- Abstract
- Objectives: Despite some evidence of an increased risk of neurologic symptoms following viral vector COVID-19 vaccine administration, it is unclear whether SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with Bell's palsy (BP), especially over a long enough follow-up period.Methods: The study population of this nationwide population-based study was derived from the South Korean population, including 11 593 365 and 36 565 099 participants with and without COVID-19, respectively. The Fine and Gray's regression model was utilized to calculate the adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (aSHR), considering death as a competing risk, to assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of BP. All participants were followed up from 1 December 2021, until the incident BP, SARS-CoV-2 infection, death, or 31 March 2022. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on participants' vaccination status (completion of the primary series vs. unvaccinated).Results: COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of BP in all participants (aSHR, 1.24; CI, 1.19 -1.29). However, the size of the COVID-19-related BP risk was significantly lower among those who completed the primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine (aSHR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.15-1.25) compared to those who were unvaccinated (aSHR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.59-2.12; p for interaction: <0.001). The severity of COVID19 exhibited a gradual escalation in BP risk for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.Discussion: While both unvaccinated individuals and those who completed the primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine may be at an increased risk of developing BP due to COVID-19, the risk appears to be lower among those who completed the vaccination. Hye Jun Kim, Clin Microbiol Infect 2023;29:1581 (c) 2023 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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