Symptom Clusters and Symptom Networks Analysis During Illness in Peripheral Facial Paralysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q2 OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY

Clinical Otolaryngology Pub Date : 2026-06-03 Epub Date: 2026-03-19 DOI:10.1111/coa.70102

Luyi Huang, Xinrui Huang, Yan Xu, Min Xu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Identify the types of symptom clusters in patients with peripheral facial paralysis during the disease, construct symptom networks, explore core symptoms, and analyze the factors affecting the symptom scores of patients.

Study Design

A cross-sectional study.

Methods

From December 2024 to May 2025, 283 patients with PFP in Zhejiang Province were assessed using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Symptom clusters were extracted via exploratory factor analysis, and multiple linear regression was employed to examine factors associated with symptom burden. A symptom network was constructed using R software to identify core symptoms based on centrality indices. Network stability and accuracy were evaluated using nonparametric bootstrapping.

Results

Five symptom clusters were identified: psychological, neurological, fatigue-related, gastrointestinal, and PFP-specific. Factors associated with higher symptom scores included age ≥ 70 years, House–Brackmann grade VI, autumn onset, no corticosteroid therapy, and initiation of acupuncture 7–14 days after onset. Centrality analysis revealed that difficulty concentrating (s = 1.041), feeling sad (s = 1.006), and worrying (s = 0.980) were core symptoms within the network.

Conclusion

Patients with PFP experience a significant symptom burden. Network analysis elucidates the complex interrelationships amongst symptoms and identifies difficulty concentrating, feeling sad, and worrying as central to the symptom experience. These findings provide a scientific basis for targeted symptom assessment and the development of personalised interventions aimed at core symptoms to improve patient quality of life.

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周围性面瘫患者疾病期间的症状群和症状网络分析：一项横断面研究。

目的：明确周围性面瘫患者发病期间的症状聚类类型，构建症状网络，探索核心症状，分析影响患者症状评分的因素。研究设计：横断面研究。方法：采用记忆症状评定量表（MSAS）对2024年12月至2025年5月浙江省283例PFP患者进行评定。通过探索性因子分析提取症状聚类，并采用多元线性回归分析与症状负担相关的因素。利用R软件构建症状网络，基于中心性指数识别核心症状。采用非参数自举法对网络的稳定性和精度进行了评价。结果：确定了五个症状群：心理，神经，疲劳相关，胃肠道和pfp特异性。与较高症状评分相关的因素包括：年龄≥70岁、House-Brackmann分级VI、秋季发病、未使用皮质类固醇治疗、发病后7-14天开始针灸。中心性分析显示，集中注意力困难（s = 1.041）、感到悲伤（s = 1.006）和担忧（s = 0.980）是网络内的核心症状。结论：PFP患者有明显的症状负担。网络分析阐明了症状之间复杂的相互关系，并确定难以集中注意力、感到悲伤和担忧是症状体验的核心。这些发现为有针对性的症状评估和针对核心症状的个性化干预措施的发展提供了科学依据，以改善患者的生活质量。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical Otolaryngology 医学-耳鼻喉科学

CiteScore

4.00

自引率

4.80%

发文量

106

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Clinical Otolaryngology is a bimonthly journal devoted to clinically-oriented research papers of the highest scientific standards dealing with: current otorhinolaryngological practice audiology, otology, balance, rhinology, larynx, voice and paediatric ORL head and neck oncology head and neck plastic and reconstructive surgery continuing medical education and ORL training The emphasis is on high quality new work in the clinical field and on fresh, original research. Each issue begins with an editorial expressing the personal opinions of an individual with a particular knowledge of a chosen subject. The main body of each issue is then devoted to original papers carrying important results for those working in the field. In addition, topical review articles are published discussing a particular subject in depth, including not only the opinions of the author but also any controversies surrounding the subject. • Negative/null results In order for research to advance, negative results, which often make a valuable contribution to the field, should be published. However, articles containing negative or null results are frequently not considered for publication or rejected by journals. We welcome papers of this kind, where appropriate and valid power calculations are included that give confidence that a negative result can be relied upon.