Identifying Key Risk Factors for Bell's Palsy and Insights from a Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed, with all patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy in AL-Nasiriya from January 2022 to December 2024 being included in the study. The study population comprised 110 patients. The House-Brackmann scale, a well-established method for the classification of muscle functions, was utilised for the assessment of patient progression. This scale facilitates the evaluation of facial posture both at rest and during voluntary movement, in addition to the identification of any abnormal movements. The scale categorises dysfunction into six distinct degrees or categories, ranging from normal function to severe disability. The classification system utilised in this study is the House-Brackmann scale, a well-established framework for the categorisation of muscle function. This scale has proven to be a valuable tool for the management of patients, as it enables the evaluation of facial posture both at rest and during voluntary movement, in addition to identifying the presence of any atypical movements. The scale delineates six distinct categories or degrees of dysfunction, as outlined below: 1) Grade I: Normal, 2) Grade II: Mild, 3) Grade III: Moderate, 4) Grade IV: Moderately Severe, 5) Grade V: Severe, 6) Grade VI: Total Paralysis. The findings from this study revealed that individuals between the ages of 30 and 39 exhibited a frequency of 40% and a p-value of 33.33%, while those between the ages of 40 and 49 demonstrated a frequency of 44% and a p-value of 36.67%. 0-60 years: frequency 26, p% 21.67, BMI: 25-28: 30, p% 25.00, 29-31: 50, p% 41.67 and >31for 30 patients and p% 25.00, Sex: male: 60, p% 50, Female: 60, p% 50 Affected side: right: 60, p% 54.5. As demonstrated in Table 3, the logistic regression analysis enabled the identification of risk factors and the determination of the most influential factors. The factors that exhibited the greatest influence were identified as the affected side right CS 2.2 OI 1.55-3.6 with a P-value of <0.001 and the left CS 2.23 OI 1.44-3.44 with a P-value of <0.001. The presence of an interval exceeding two years was observed in 3.4% of cases, categorized as CS 3.4. The observed range of OI was 2.4-4.9, with a P-value of <0.001. The designation of Grade IV signifies severe dysfunction in patients. The mean CS score was 4.1, with an observed range of OI 2.7-6.9 and a P-value of <0.001. The designation of Grade V indicates minimal ability, with a mean score of 4.5 and an observed range of 3.8-6.6, both with a P-value of <0.001.