Article type
Abstract
"Background: Evidence-based treatment for Bell’s palsy, such as the timely administration of steroids within 3 days of symptom onset, is well-established. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests the potential benefits of integrating early acupuncture treatment during the acute phase of Bell’s palsy with steroid therapy.
Objective: This study aimed to observe the effect of early acupuncture on Bell’s palsy in the general population using real-world health insurance data in Korea.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 45,986 adult patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy who received steroids between 2015 and 2017, with a follow-up period of at least 3 years until 2020, obtained from the Korea National Health Insurance database. Patients were categorized into two groups: the early acupuncture group (n=28,267), consisting of those who received acupuncture treatment within 7 days of diagnosis, and the comparison group (n=17,719), comprising patients who did not receive acupuncture within this timeframe. The impact of early acupuncture on the likelihood of Bell’s palsy recurrence was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis, considering various demographic and clinical factors.
Results: Patients in the early acupuncture group exhibited a significantly lower likelihood of Bell’s palsy recurrence compared to the comparison group (odds ratio: 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.69–0.95). Additionally, younger age was identified as a risk factor for recurrence, while sex did not show a significant association. Furthermore, prolonged treatment duration exceeding 90 days and the presence of hyperlipidemia were associated with an increased risk of recurrence.
Conclusion: This study provides real-world evidence supporting the beneficial impact of early acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for Bell’s palsy in Korea. The findings underscore the importance of translating evidence into clinical practice, highlighting the potential role of acupuncture in reducing recurrence rates. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and facilitate the integration of acupuncture into standard treatment protocols for Bell’s palsy."
Objective: This study aimed to observe the effect of early acupuncture on Bell’s palsy in the general population using real-world health insurance data in Korea.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 45,986 adult patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy who received steroids between 2015 and 2017, with a follow-up period of at least 3 years until 2020, obtained from the Korea National Health Insurance database. Patients were categorized into two groups: the early acupuncture group (n=28,267), consisting of those who received acupuncture treatment within 7 days of diagnosis, and the comparison group (n=17,719), comprising patients who did not receive acupuncture within this timeframe. The impact of early acupuncture on the likelihood of Bell’s palsy recurrence was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis, considering various demographic and clinical factors.
Results: Patients in the early acupuncture group exhibited a significantly lower likelihood of Bell’s palsy recurrence compared to the comparison group (odds ratio: 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.69–0.95). Additionally, younger age was identified as a risk factor for recurrence, while sex did not show a significant association. Furthermore, prolonged treatment duration exceeding 90 days and the presence of hyperlipidemia were associated with an increased risk of recurrence.
Conclusion: This study provides real-world evidence supporting the beneficial impact of early acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for Bell’s palsy in Korea. The findings underscore the importance of translating evidence into clinical practice, highlighting the potential role of acupuncture in reducing recurrence rates. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and facilitate the integration of acupuncture into standard treatment protocols for Bell’s palsy."