Prevalence and associated factors of facial palsy and lifestyle characteristics: data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2012

• Published in: BMJ open 2016-11, Vol.6 (11), p.e012628-e012628
• Main Authors: Chang, Young-Soo, Choi, Ji Eun, Kim, Seon Woo, Baek, Sun-Young, Cho, Yang-Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ear, Nose and Throat/Otolaryngology; Etiology; Facial Paralysis - epidemiology; Female; Gender; Hearing loss; Households; Humans; Infant; Laboratories; Life Style; Lifestyles; Linear Models; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Nutrition; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional status; Population; Regression analysis; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Self Report; Sex Distribution; Statistical analysis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012628

ObjectivesTo report the nationwide prevalence of facial palsy (FP) of grade III or worse in the House–Brackmann (H–B) grading system in South Korea and assess the associated factors.DesignCross-sectional analysis of a nationwide health survey.SettingsSouth Korea.MethodsWe obtained data from the 2010 to 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, which were cross-sectional surveys of the South Korean civilian population living in households and aged ≥1 year (N=23 533). A field survey team performed interviews, physical examinations and laboratory tests. Facial expression was evaluated based on the H–B grading system.ResultsAmong the population aged ≥1 year, the prevalence of FP of grade III or worse in the H–B grading system was 0.12% (95% CI 0.07% to 0.17%). FP was more prevalent in women (p=0.01) and the prevalence rate increased with age (p