ArticleActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica2026
Risk factors for pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy: A nationwide population-based register study.
Article in Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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- Risk factors for pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy: A nationwide population-based register study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2026Article
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Abstract
introductionBell's palsy appears to be more common in pregnancy, but incidence numbers differ. Risk factors for pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy have been discussed, but larger studies are needed to receive significant results. MATERIAL AND
methodsThis study aimed to investigate the incidence and maternal risk factors of pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy. It is a nationwide register-based cohort study. Women with Bell's palsy in Sweden from 2005 to 2015 were identified in the National Patient Register. Women giving birth at ≥22 gestational weeks during the same period were identified in the Medical Birth Register. Pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy was defined as the first diagnosis of Bell's palsy during pregnancy or within the first 2 months postpartum, identified by linking the data sets. Childbirths in women without a history of Bell's palsy were used as a comparison group. Risk factors were identified using backward conditional multivariable logistic regression and presented with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
resultsA total of 2051 childbirths in women with pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy were identified. For a comparison 1 188 489 childbirths in women without a history of Bell's palsy were used. The incidence of pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy was 171.6 per 100 000 childbirths. Pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy was associated with high BMI (e.g., BMI 30-34.9, aOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.12-1.50), being born in Asia (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.37), Africa (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.47-2.11), or South America (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.35-2.55), multiple pregnancy (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.48-2.26), and a diagnosis of herpes zoster (aOR 6.55, 95% CI 2.93-14.67), borreliosis (aOR 3.70, 95% CI 1.38-9.89), gestational diabetes (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.31-2.15), or preeclampsia (aOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.74-2.35).
conclusionsThe incidence of pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy was 171.6 per 100 000 childbirths. Risk factors related to metabolic stress were associated with pregnancy-associated Bell's palsy, although the causal pathway remains unclear.
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