Association of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination with Facial-Related Neurological Disorders: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Neurological complications after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine administration have been reported. However, the incidence rates of these complications have not been compared in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. This study used a nationwide cohort from South Korea to investigate the incidence and prognostic factors of facial-related neurological disorders, such as facial palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, and hemifacial spasms, after COVID-19 vaccination. A population-based cohort design was used to examine data from a randomly selected 50% of the adult population in Seoul, South Korea. Information on demographics, vaccination status, vaccination type, and medical history was collected. The incidence rates and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for facial-related neurological disorders were calculated. This study included 2,482,481 adults, 85.94% of whom were vaccinated. Vaccinated individuals showed a higher incidence of facial palsy, hemifacial spasm, and trigeminal neuralgia than unvaccinated individuals, with significant aHRs of 1.821, 3.203, and 6.621, respectively. Dyslipidemia, female sex, and young age were identified as risk factors for hemifacial spasms and trigeminal neuralgia. This study demonstrates an increased incidence of facial-related neurological disorders after COVID-19 vaccination, particularly among individuals with dyslipidemia and younger women. These findings underscore the need for further investigations into the mechanisms and management of vaccine-related neurological issues.