Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional study
Aim Cluster headache (CH) is often underdiagnosed and improperly treated. We explored the characteristics of CH patients referred to our tertiary headache center and compared them to patients with migraine and tension-type headache (TTH). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Heada...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Cephalalgia Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/25158163251348665 |
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| author | Kristin Sophie Lange Johanna Dorn Lucas Hendrik Overeem Mira Pauline Fitzek Carolin Luisa Hoehne Ja Bin Hong Yones Salim Marlene Ulrich Uwe Reuter Bianca Raffaelli |
| author_facet | Kristin Sophie Lange Johanna Dorn Lucas Hendrik Overeem Mira Pauline Fitzek Carolin Luisa Hoehne Ja Bin Hong Yones Salim Marlene Ulrich Uwe Reuter Bianca Raffaelli |
| author_sort | Kristin Sophie Lange |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aim Cluster headache (CH) is often underdiagnosed and improperly treated. We explored the characteristics of CH patients referred to our tertiary headache center and compared them to patients with migraine and tension-type headache (TTH). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Headache Center of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin from December 2015 to January 2023. We collected data on headache characteristics, comorbidities, prior treatments, and treatment recommendations from the doctor's letter generated after their first consultation. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures were assessed using the Headache Impact Test, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21, and the Short Form 12. We compared characteristics of patients diagnosed with CH to those with migraine and TTH, matched for age, sex, and body mass index. Results From the overall cohort of 1468 patients (mean age 43 ± 14 years; 75% women), 56 patients (mean age 44 ± 9 years; 23% women) were diagnosed with CH. Among these 56 patients, 54% ( n = 30) were diagnosed with chronic CH. Although 84% were correctly diagnosed before referral, 34% lacked first-line acute treatment, and 55% had not received guideline-recommended preventive medication. Compared to patients with migraine, patients with CH had a shorter disease duration from onset to referral (5.5 [7.3] years vs. 20.0 [21.0] years, p < 0.001). Smoking and illicit drug use were significantly more frequent among patients with CH ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 for the comparison with migraine and TTH, respectively), but not the rate of manifest cardiovascular diseases. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures scores did not differ significantly. Conclusion Both acute and preventive treatment in patients with CH remains inadequate at primary and secondary care levels. The high prevalence of chronic CH suggests a high threshold for referral to specialized centers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5da15730f7194a8fa8876b200f4e6769 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2515-8163 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cephalalgia Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5da15730f7194a8fa8876b200f4e67692025-08-20T03:30:52ZengSAGE PublishingCephalalgia Reports2515-81632025-06-01810.1177/25158163251348665Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional studyKristin Sophie Lange0Johanna Dorn1Lucas Hendrik Overeem2Mira Pauline Fitzek3Carolin Luisa Hoehne4Ja Bin Hong5Yones Salim6Marlene Ulrich7Uwe Reuter8Bianca Raffaelli9 Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany Department of Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt–Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany Doctoral Program, International Graduate Program Medical Neurosciences, Humboldt Graduate School, Berlin, Germany Junior Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany Department of Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt–Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany Department of Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt–Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany Department of Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt–Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany Department of Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt–Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany Clinician Scientist Program, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, GermanyAim Cluster headache (CH) is often underdiagnosed and improperly treated. We explored the characteristics of CH patients referred to our tertiary headache center and compared them to patients with migraine and tension-type headache (TTH). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Headache Center of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin from December 2015 to January 2023. We collected data on headache characteristics, comorbidities, prior treatments, and treatment recommendations from the doctor's letter generated after their first consultation. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures were assessed using the Headache Impact Test, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21, and the Short Form 12. We compared characteristics of patients diagnosed with CH to those with migraine and TTH, matched for age, sex, and body mass index. Results From the overall cohort of 1468 patients (mean age 43 ± 14 years; 75% women), 56 patients (mean age 44 ± 9 years; 23% women) were diagnosed with CH. Among these 56 patients, 54% ( n = 30) were diagnosed with chronic CH. Although 84% were correctly diagnosed before referral, 34% lacked first-line acute treatment, and 55% had not received guideline-recommended preventive medication. Compared to patients with migraine, patients with CH had a shorter disease duration from onset to referral (5.5 [7.3] years vs. 20.0 [21.0] years, p < 0.001). Smoking and illicit drug use were significantly more frequent among patients with CH ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 for the comparison with migraine and TTH, respectively), but not the rate of manifest cardiovascular diseases. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures scores did not differ significantly. Conclusion Both acute and preventive treatment in patients with CH remains inadequate at primary and secondary care levels. The high prevalence of chronic CH suggests a high threshold for referral to specialized centers.https://doi.org/10.1177/25158163251348665 |
| spellingShingle | Kristin Sophie Lange Johanna Dorn Lucas Hendrik Overeem Mira Pauline Fitzek Carolin Luisa Hoehne Ja Bin Hong Yones Salim Marlene Ulrich Uwe Reuter Bianca Raffaelli Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional study Cephalalgia Reports |
| title | Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | characteristics of patients with cluster headache presenting to a tertiary headache center a cross sectional study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/25158163251348665 |
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