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. 2022 Jul;47(4):541-545.
doi: 10.1111/coa.13934. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

A cross-sectional analysis of facial palsy-related quality of life in 125 patients: Comparing linear, quadratic and cubic regression analyses

Rucháma Verhoeff  1 , Tessa E Bruins  1 , Koen J A O Ingels  2 , Paul M N Werker  1 , Martinus M van Veen  1
Affiliations

A cross-sectional analysis of facial palsy-related quality of life in 125 patients: Comparing linear, quadratic and cubic regression analyses

Rucháma Verhoeff et al. Clin Otolaryngol. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Facial function correlates with quality of life in facial palsy. Previous studies have examined a linear relationship; based on clinical experience, we hypothesize a curved regression (i.e. quadratic or cubic) will be more fitting to show the correlation between quality of life and facial function.

Methods: We compared the fit of a linear regression model between Sunnybrook scores (facial function) and FaCE and FDI scores (quality of life) to a quadratic and cubic regression model in 125 patients cross-sectionally.

Results: A total of 125 patients were included, 53.6% female with a mean (standard deviation) age of 56.6 (16.7) and a median (interquartile range) duration of palsy of 6.6 (1.5; 18.3) years. The quadratic regression proved a significant improvement over a linear regression analysis in the model using the FaCE total score (linear R2 =.346, quadratic R2 = .378, p = .033) and the FDI physical score (linear R2 = .245, quadratic R2 =.276, p = .034). The cubic regression analysis was no significant improvement over a quadratic regression.

Discussion: The relationship between facial function and quality of life in facial palsy is not linear meaning that there is a lot of variation in QoL in cases with severe and moderate facial impairment. This is most applicable to patients suffering from post-paralysis synkinesis, proving the highly individually experienced burden of synkinesis. As the relationship is not linear it should not be included as such in future research studies.

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References

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