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The effects of age and comorbid diseases on bell’s palsy Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of age and comorbid disease on the severity and prognosis of Bell’s palsy.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 86 patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. Patients were divided into subgroups according to their comorbid status. The difference between the initial and final HB grade averages of comorbid state among subgroups was investigated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the recovery status, and these groups were compared in terms of age and presence of comorbid disease.
Results: The mean age increased with the increase in the initial HB grade, but the relationship was statistically insignificant (p=0.271). As the prevalence of HB grade increased, the presence of comorbid disease also increased, indicating a statistical significance (p=0.002). The mean age was found to be higher in the incomplete recovery group than in the complete recovery group, but the relationship was not statistically significant (p=0.275). Mean initial HB grade in group having one comorbid disease and group having two or more comorbid disease was higher than group without comorbid disease, and relationship was statistically significant (p=0.001). Final HB grade in group having two or more comorbid disease was statistically significant higher than in group having one comorbid disease and group without comorbid disease (p=0.01). The presence of comorbid disease was higher in the incomplete recovery group than in the complete recovery group (p=0.004).
Conclusion: In Bell’s palsy, the presence of comorbid disease increases the severity of the disease. While the presence of a single comorbid disease has no effect on the prognosis, two or more comorbid disease adversely affects the prognosis.