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Primary hemifacial spasm and arterial hypertension: A multicenter case–control study

From the Departments of Neurologic and Psychiatric Sciences (Drs. Defazio, De Salvia, Federico, and Livrea) and C.I.M.E.D.O.C. (Drs. Assennato and Vacca), University of Bari; the Department of Neuroscience (Drs. Berardelli and Vacca), University of Rome "La Sapienza" and Neurosed, Pozzilli (IS); the Department of Neurology (Drs. Abbruzzese, and Marchese), University of Genova; and the Department of Preventive Medicine (Dr. Coviello), Andria, Italy.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Giovanni Defazio, Department of Neurologic and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, I-70124 Bari, Italy.

In a case–control study, the authors found that arterial hypertension occurred more frequently among 115 patients with primary hemifacial spasm than among 115 neurologic controls matched for age (±5 years), sex, and referral center. The association was not confounded by education level, smoking history, diabetes, or other diseases (adjusted OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.33, p = 0.007). Hypertension was significantly associated with the outcome in the left-sided group (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.4 to 11.5), but data concerning patients with right-sided spasm were inconclusive (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.36 to 3.1). In our sample, hypertension either preceded or followed the onset of hemifacial spasm.

Key words: Hemifacial spasm—Arterial hypertension—Epidemiology.

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