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

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.

Examining the relationship between COVID-19 and Bell's palsy: Experience of a single tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: While the etiology of Bell's palsy (BP) is largely unknown, current evidence shows it may occur secondary to the immune response following a viral infection. Recently, BP has been reported as a clinical manifestation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). OBJECTIVES: To investigate an association between COVID-19 infection and BP. Additionally, to evaluate the need for COVID-19 testing in patients who present with BP. METHODS: Hospital records of patients who presented to a single tertiary care center with BP in 2020 and 2021 were reviewed for presenting symptoms, demographics, COVID-19 infection and vaccination status. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between patients with BP who had a positive or negative COVID test in terms of sex, BMI, age, race, smoking history or alcohol use. All 7 patients with BP and a positive COVID test were unvaccinated. Of the total cohort of 94 patients, 82 % were unvaccinated at the time of the study. None of the 17 patients who were vaccinated had a positive COVID test. A history of BP showed no statistical significance (10.3 % vs 14.3 %, p-value 0.73). CONCLUSION: We discovered a limited cohort of patients who underwent COVID-19 testing at the time of presentation for BP. Though there have been recent studies suggesting a COVID-19 and BP, we were unable to clearly identify a relationship between COVID-19 and BP. Interestingly, all patients with facial paralysis and COVID-19 were unvaccinated. To further study this relationship, we recommend consideration of a COVID-19 test for any patient that presents with facial paralysis.