Work

Evaluating Treatment Patterns in Bell's Palsy Using Nationwide Employer‐Sponsored Healthcare Claims

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Professional society guidelines provide clear recommendations regarding the use of high-dose steroids and/or antiviral therapy for Bell's palsy patients. This study evaluates national trends in the care of Bell's palsy patients and identifies current treatments. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of adult Bell's palsy patients was conducted using ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes from 2013 to 2020. These patients were continuously enrolled in the employer-sponsored MarketScan commercial or Medicare outpatient and prescription drug claims data for at least 1 year. The main outcome of interest was prescription rates of high-dose steroids and antivirals after the diagnosis date. RESULTS: In this cohort of 66,708 adult Bell's palsy patients, 29,824 (44.7%) received no treatment. 22,736 (34.1%) received combination therapy, 11,866 (17.8%) received steroids only, and 2282 (3.4%) received antivirals only. Males were more likely to receive combination therapy. 51.9% of Bell's palsy patients in this cohort received the AAO-recommended treatment of steroids within 72 h of diagnosis. Patients in the Southern and Western United States were more commonly prescribed combination therapy. Comorbidities such as cerebrovascular disease and symptoms like ear pain were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving combination therapy. Treatment initiation, particularly for steroids, occurred on the index date, first insurance claim, in 94.56% of cases. CONCLUSION: Only 51.9% of Bell's palsy patients in this cohort received the AAO-recommended treatment with high-dose steroids with or without antiviral therapy. This research provides valuable insights into the real-world management of Bell's palsy, emphasizing the need for adherence to established treatment guidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Source: The Laryngoscope

DOI: 10.1002/lary.32115

Authors: Sujay Ratna, Shaun Edalati, Yehia Elkersh, Parul Agarwal, Joshua Rosenberg, Mingyang Gray

Institutions: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Tisch Cancer Institute

Language: English

Topic: Facial Nerve Paralysis Treatment and Research

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences