TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment experiences and clinical characteristics in migraine and tension-type headache patients before the first visit to a tertiary headache center
AU - Mouaanaki, Sarah Afif
AU - Carlsen, Louise Ninett
AU - Bendtsen, Lars
AU - Jensen, Rigmor Højland
AU - Schytz, Henrik Winther
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To investigate previous treatment and clinical characteristics in migraine and tension-type headache patients at their first visit to a tertiary headache center.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using data obtained from electronic questionnaires and medical charts. Migraine and tension-type headache patients were investigated at their first visit to the Danish Headache Center.RESULTS: Out of 382 patients the main diagnoses of primary headaches were: 36% with episodic migraine, 43% with chronic migraine, 3% with episodic tension-type headache and 17% with chronic tension-type headache. The majority had attempted non-pharmacological treatment options such as physiotherapy (episodic migraine: 53%, chronic migraine: 68%, episodic tension-type headache: 50%, chronic tension-type headache: 65%) and acupuncture: (episodic migraine: 45%, chronic migraine: 62%, episodic tension-type headache: 17%, chronic tension-type headache: 51%). The majority of migraine patients had tried no more than one triptan (episodic migraine: 71%, chronic migraine: 66%). In total, 35% of episodic migraine and 19% of chronic migraine patients as well as 50% of episodic tension-type headache and 41% of chronic tension-type headache patients had never tried preventive medication. The headache under-response to treatment (HURT) questionnaire score was higher in chronic migraine (score 15) and chronic tension-type headache (score 16) patients than the episodic forms (P < 0.004).CONCLUSIONS: Headache patients had attempted several non-pharmacological treatments prior to their first visit at a tertiary headache center in Denmark. The limited use of acute and preventive treatment before the first visit demonstrates a need for better treatment at the primary and secondary care level.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To investigate previous treatment and clinical characteristics in migraine and tension-type headache patients at their first visit to a tertiary headache center.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using data obtained from electronic questionnaires and medical charts. Migraine and tension-type headache patients were investigated at their first visit to the Danish Headache Center.RESULTS: Out of 382 patients the main diagnoses of primary headaches were: 36% with episodic migraine, 43% with chronic migraine, 3% with episodic tension-type headache and 17% with chronic tension-type headache. The majority had attempted non-pharmacological treatment options such as physiotherapy (episodic migraine: 53%, chronic migraine: 68%, episodic tension-type headache: 50%, chronic tension-type headache: 65%) and acupuncture: (episodic migraine: 45%, chronic migraine: 62%, episodic tension-type headache: 17%, chronic tension-type headache: 51%). The majority of migraine patients had tried no more than one triptan (episodic migraine: 71%, chronic migraine: 66%). In total, 35% of episodic migraine and 19% of chronic migraine patients as well as 50% of episodic tension-type headache and 41% of chronic tension-type headache patients had never tried preventive medication. The headache under-response to treatment (HURT) questionnaire score was higher in chronic migraine (score 15) and chronic tension-type headache (score 16) patients than the episodic forms (P < 0.004).CONCLUSIONS: Headache patients had attempted several non-pharmacological treatments prior to their first visit at a tertiary headache center in Denmark. The limited use of acute and preventive treatment before the first visit demonstrates a need for better treatment at the primary and secondary care level.
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Headache/complications
KW - Humans
KW - Migraine Disorders/complications
KW - Tension-Type Headache/complications
KW - Tryptamines
KW - non-pharmacological treatment
KW - tertiary headache center
KW - drug utilization
KW - Migraine
KW - tension-type headache
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131183717&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/03331024221104178
DO - 10.1177/03331024221104178
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35633026
VL - 42
SP - 1265
EP - 1273
JO - Cephalalgia
JF - Cephalalgia
SN - 0333-1024
IS - 11-12
ER -