Table 2 Clinical characteristics of headache in patients with prolonged COVID-19 vaccine related headaches in relation to preexisting primary headache
Clinical/ demographic properties | Pre-existing PH ( +) (n = 107) | No pre-existing PH (n = 67) | p |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, (mean ± SD) | 46.03 ± 13.06 | 43.8 ± 13.8 | 0.228 |
Gender (f/m), (n/%) | 88/19 (82.2/17.8) | 40/27 (59.7/40.3) | 0.001 |
Comorbid systemic disease, n (%) | 75 (70.1) | 41 (61.2) | 0.226 |
COVID-19 related headache history ( +), n (%) | 32 (61.5) | 19 (67.9) | 0.575 |
COVID-19 vaccination related prolonged headache characteristics | |||
Time interval between headache and vaccination (days), (mean ± SD) | 2.77 ± 3.6 | 3.55 ± 3.57 | 0.005 |
Duration of headache attack ≥ 24 h, n (%) | 86 (86.4) | 57 (85.1) | 0.430 |
Duration of headache ˃1 month, n (%) | 39 (36.4) | 41 (61.2) | 0.001 |
Lateralization (unilateral/bilateral), n (%) | 45/62 (42.1/57.9) | 21/46 (31.3/68.7) | 0.113 |
Quality, n (%) | |||
Throbbing | 64 (59.8) | 29 (43.3) | 0.033 |
Pressing | 49 (45.8) | 47 (70.1) | 0.002 |
Stabbing | 15 (14) | 13 (19.4) | 0.347 |
Other | 7 (6.5) | 6 (9) | 0.556 |
Localization, n (%) | |||
Frontal | 62 (57.9) | 32 (47.8) | 0.190 |
Vertex | 15 (14) | 18 (26.9) | 0.035 |
Temporal | 42 (39.3) | 22 (32.8) | 0.393 |
Occipital | 35 (32.7) | 19 (28.4) | 0.546 |
Holocranial | 23 (21.5) | 12 (17.9) | 0.566 |
Other | 7 (6.5) | 4 (6) | 0.880 |
Accompanying symptoms, n (%) | |||
Nausea | 54 (50.5) | 19 (28.4) | 0.004 |
Phonophobia | 55 (51.4) | 25 (37.3) | 0.07 |
Photophobia | 58 (54.2) | 23 (34.3) | 0.011 |
Osmophobia | 21 (19.6) | 5 (7.5) | 0.029 |
Dizziness | 26 (24.3) | 22 (32.8) | 0.22 |
Increase by physical activity | 44 (41.1) | 24 (35.8) | 0.486 |
Cranial autonomic symptoms | 10 (9.3) | 6 (9) | 0.931 |
Allodynia | 28 (26.2) | 16 (23.9) | 0.735 |
Other | 25 (23.4) | 11 (16.4) | 0.271 |
Headache improvement status, n (%) | |||
Improved without medication | 10 (9.3) | 8 (11.9) | 0.103 |
Totally relieved with medication | 43 (40.2) | 23 (34.3) | |
Continued despite medication (no emergency referral) | 47 (43.9) | 24 (35.8) | |
Emergency room/hospital referral due to headache | 7(6.5) | 12 (17.9) | |
Other secondary headache diagnosis n (%) | 1 (0.9) | 7 (10.4) | 0.017 |
Mig-SCog Scale (mean±SD) | 6.56 ± 5.06 | 5.19 ± 4.82 | 0.076 |
Treatment choices n (%) | |||
Paracetamol | 61 (57) | 42 (62.7) | 0.458 |
NSAID | 41 (38.3) | 34 (50.7) | 0.107 |
Aspirin | 11 (10.3) | 6 (9) | 0.775 |
Triptans | 26 (24.3) | 3 (4.5) | 0.001 |
Ergotamine | 3 (2.8) | 3 (4.5) | 0.556 |
Beta blockers | 6 (5.6) | 2 (3) | 0.422 |
TCADs | 8 (7.5) | 6 (9) | 0.727 |
SSRI | 10 (9.3) | 5 (7.5) | 0.667 |
SNRI | 1 (0.9) | 5 (7.5) | 0.022 |
Steroids | 4 (3.7) | 4 (6) | 0.494 |
Muscle relaxants | 3 (2.8) | 9 (13.4) | 0.007 |
GON block | 13 (12.1) | 9 (13.4) | 0.804 |
Botulinum toxin | 7 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 0.033 |
CGRP receptor antagonists | 9 (8.4) | 2 (3) | 0.152 |