In addition, since the HES uses a standardized coding system (ICD-10 clinical and OPCS-4 procedural coding), consistent information was ensured across the study population [19]. Also, to account for heterogeneity across influenza seasons arising from the dominant circulating virus strains [30], ...
Among identified cases, we ruled out those who had another Bell’s palsy or diagnosis of related diseases, such as postherpetic geniculate ganglionitis (ICD-10 code B02.21), clonic hemifacial spasm (G51.3), facial myokymia (G51.4), other disorders of facial nerve (G51.8), acute myocardial ...