Table 2.

Comparison of clinical parameters of patients with Bell’s palsy with and without relation to COVID-19 vaccination

	Vaccine related (n = 13)	Vaccine unrelated (n = 59)		P-value
Patient information
Age, years	43.92 ± 13.14	54.32 ± 16.01		0.033*
Sex (male)	9 (69.2)	34 (57.6)		0.44
Clinical assessment
Initial H–B grade				0.567
Normal or mild (1–2)	0 (0)	2 (3.4)
Moderate (3–4)	10 (76.9)	35 (59.3)
Severe (5–6)	3 (23.1)	22 (37.3)
Final H–B grade				0.209
Normal or mild (1–2)	13 (100)	46 (78.0)
Moderate (3–4)	0 (0)	12 (20.3)
Severe (5–6)	0 (0)	1 (1.7)
H–B grade change	2.65 ± 0.63	2.25 ± 1.06		0.194
Duration from initial to final assessment, days (median [Q1–Q3])	33.0 [22.0–49.0]	56.0 [27.0–76.0]		0.078
Associated symptoms (n = 68)	(n = 13)	(n = 55)
Pain	10 (76.9)	30 (54.5)		0.14
Hypogeusia	7 (53.8)	6 (10.9)		0.002*
Hyperacusis	3 (23.1)	12 (21.8)		1
Lacrimation	6 (46.2)	33 (60.0)		0.364
Presence of MRI enhancement of facial nerve (n = 46)	(n = 10)	(n = 36)
Overall	8 (80.0)	29 (80.6)		1
Segmental
Intrameatal	8 (80.0)		24 (66.7)	0.699
Labyrinthine	2 (20.0)		7 (19.4)	1
Geniculate ganglion	3 (30.0)		9 (25.0)	0.706
Tympanic	1 (10.0)		4 (11.1)	1
Mastoid	0 (0)		0 (0)	1
Facial NCS findings (n = 70)	(n = 13)	(n = 57)
> 50% CMAP decrement	9 (69.2)	44 (77.2)		0.721
CMAP ratio (ipsilesional/contralesional)	0.46 ± 0.32	0.32 ± 0.25		0.172
Time required for good recoverya				0.042*
< 1 month	6 (46.2)	10 (16.9)
1–2 months	5 (38.5)	16 (27.1)
2–3 months	1 (7.7)	12 (20.3)
3–4 months	1 (7.7)	5 (8.5)
> 4 months or poor recovery	0 (0)	16 (27.1)

Results are shown as mean ± SD or n (%)

H–B House–Brackmann, MRI magnetic resonance imaging, NCS nerve conduction study, CMAP compound muscle action potential

^aGood recovery: H–B grade 1 or 2