Junhui Jeong

Bell's palsy, a sudden paralysis of the facial nerve, lacks a clear etiology, with climatic and environmental factors suggested as possible triggers. Identifying these associations could offer insights into effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to explore the potential relationships between the incidence of Bell's palsy in the Korean population and specific meteorological and environmental factors. A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service for 2010 to 2020. The study assessed the incidence rates of Bell's palsy and how they correlated with meteorological indicators (temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind velocity, insolation) and environmental factors (air pollutants, including NO₂, CO, SO₂, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and O₃). The analysis identified 530,701 cases of Bell's palsy, with an average incidence rate of 93.90 per 100,000 individuals. The condition was more prevalent among individuals in their 50s, and no significant annual trend was evident. Seasonal variations were not linked to substantial differences, while meteorological factors exhibited notable correlations. Increased temperature and relative humidity corresponded to reduced incidence rates, while drier and sunnier conditions were linked with a higher occurrence of Bell's palsy. Air pollutants, particularly NO₂, CO, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5, were positively correlated with the incidence of Bell's palsy. Surprisingly, a lower concentration of O₃ was associated with a higher incidence. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of Bell's palsy and meteorological and environmental factors. The detected correlations among climatic indicators, air pollutants, and the incidence of Bell's palsy underscores the potential impact of external factors on the condition's development. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of Bell's palsy, highlighting the need to consider both climatic and environmental influences in its etiology.

Joo HA, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2026 Jun;41(24):e166. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e166

Jeong J, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2025 Jan;40:e75. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e75

Objectives: Comprehensive studies in which the seasonal variation in peripheral vestibular disorders was evaluated using data from an entire population are insufficient. The seasonal variation in peripheral vestibular disorders based on data from the entire Korean population was investigated in the present study.Methods: Retrospective data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea from 2008 to 2020 was analyzed. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis (VN), and Meniere's disease (MD) were defined based on diagnostic, treatment, or audiovestibular test codes. The seasonal incidence for each peripheral vestibular disorder was calculated among all study subjects.Results: For the entire study cohort, the incidence of BPPV was significantly higher in spring (odds ratio [OR] = 1.031, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.026–1.037), autumn (OR = 1.024, 95% CI = 1.019–1.029), and winter (OR = 1.051, 95% CI = 1.046–1.056) than in summer. The incidence of VN was significantly lower in winter (OR = 0.917, 95% CI = 0.907–0.927) than in summer. The incidence of MD was significantly higher in spring (OR = 1.027, 95% CI = 1.015–1.039) and autumn (OR = 1.029, 95% CI = 1.017–1.041) and significantly lower in winter (OR = 0.919, 95% CI = 0.908–0.931) than in summer. Differences were also observed in seasonal variation based on sex and age.Conclusions: Significant seasonal variation occurred in peripheral vestibular disorders including BPPV, VN, and MD based on the entire Korean population data. Furthermore, seasonal variation showed differences based on sex and age.Level of Evidence: 4.

Background: Studies of risk factors for middle ear cholesteatoma surgery using population-based data are lacking. Objectives: To investigate the risk factors for cholesteatoma surgery in adults based on population data from Korea. Materials and Methods: For this retrospective study, we used Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data. Patients who were 20 years or older and underwent mastoidectomy from 2006 through 2015 under the diagnostic codes of cholesteatoma were defined as patients with middle ear cholesteatoma surgery. The control group was comprised of the remaining database sample in 2006. Sociodemographic factors in 2006 and histories of medical diseases, allergic diseases, and chronic sinusitis from 2003 through 2005 were compared between cholesteatoma surgery and control groups. Results: A total of 459 patients underwent cholesteatoma surgery. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, age 40-59 years and residence in metropolitan cities and small- and medium-sized cities and counties were significant risk factors for cholesteatoma surgery whereas allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and chronic sinusitis were not significant risk factors for middle ear cholesteatoma surgery. Conclusions and significance: The present study found no evidence of associations between allergic diseases or chronic sinusitis and cholesteatoma surgery in adults.

Kwak MY, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2024 Apr;39(16):e140. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e140

Several studies point out the association of facial palsy with psychiatric distress such as depression and anxiety. However, there have been few studies on this association based on population-based data. To investigate the risk for depression and anxiety disorders in patients with Bell's palsy and in those with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This retrospective study included data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort. From 2006 to 2015, patients with Bell's palsy and those with Ramsay Hunt syndrome were defined using diagnostic and medication claim codes. Patients with depression or anxiety were defined using diagnostic and medication claim codes. Occurrences of depression and anxiety were included in analyses. There were significantly higher risks for depressive and anxiety disorders in the group of patients with Bell's palsy than in the control group, as well as in the group of patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome than in the control group. There were significantly higher risks for depression and anxiety in patients with facial palsy including Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome based on population-based data from Korea.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy in patients with vestibular schwannoma and the association of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy with vestibular schwannoma were investigated based on the population data of Korea. METHODS: This retrospective study used the Korean National Health Insurance Service data. Patients with vestibular schwannoma and those with a previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy were identified based on diagnostic, medication, magnetic resonance imaging, or audiometric codes from 2005 to 2020. The control group was established with propensity score matching. The risk for vestibular schwannoma in patients with a previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy was analyzed. RESULTS: There were 5751 patients in the vestibular schwannoma group and 23004 in the control group. The rate of patients with a previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the vestibular schwannoma group (25.8%) was significantly higher than in the control group (P < .0001), as was the rate of patients with a previous history of facial palsy in the vestibular schwannoma group (4.7%) (P < .0001). Previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss was a significant risk factor for vestibular schwannoma (hazard ratio=7.109, 95% confidence interval=6.696-7.547). Previous history of facial palsy was also a significant risk factor for vestibular schwannoma (hazard ratio=3.048, 95% confidence interval=2.695-3.447). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy was significantly higher in patients with vestibular schwannoma than in those without vestibular schwannoma. Based on the population data of Korea, sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy were significant risk factors for vestibular schwannoma. Cite this article as: Jeong J, Lee Y-H, Kim S, Kim SH, Chang K-H. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy in patients with vestibular schwannoma based on the population data of Korea. J Int Adv Otol. 2023;19(6):468-471.