TABLE 1.
Comparison of pain score (numerical rating scale) with cluster headache features
| CH pain score <10 (n = 447) | CH pain score = 10 (n = 1157) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristics | |||
| Sex | Female 108 (24%) | Female 389 (34%) | <0.001* |
| Age of onset | 28.2 ± 12.2 | 27.0 ± 12.6 | 0.037 |
| Age at first diagnosis | 34.2 ± 11.8 | 33.3 ± 11.5 | 0.302 |
| Current age | 45.3 ± 13.4 | 46.4 ± 12.8 | 0.083 |
| Episodic versus chronic cluster headache | Episodic 364 (81%) | Episodic 881 (76%) | 0.053 |
| Family history | Yes 36 (8%) | Yes 132 (11%) | 0.128 |
| Maybe 59 (13%) | Maybe 139 (12%) | ||
| No 352 (79%) | No 885 (77%) | ||
| Cluster headache features | |||
| Headache duration (in hours) | 83.1 ± 44.8 | 86.2 ± 44.3 | 0.130 |
| Headache frequency (attacks/day) | 3.5 ± 2.0 | 4.0 ± 2.0 | <0.001* |
| Unilateral conjunctival injection or lacrimation | Yes 381 (85%) | Yes 1057 (91%) | <0.001* |
| Unilateral nasal congestion | Yes 392 (88%) | Yes 1058 (91%) | 0.029 |
| Unilateral eyelid edema | Yes 293 (66%) | Yes 887 (77%) | <0.001* |
| Unilateral forehead and facial sweating | Yes 217 (49%) | Yes 693 (60%) | <0.001* |
| Unilateral sensation of fullness in the ear | Yes 155 (35%) | Yes 541 (47%) | <0.001* |
| Unilateral miosis and/or ptosis | Yes 334 (75%) | Yes 983 (85%) | <0.001* |
| A sense of restlessness or agitation | Yes 426 (95%) | Yes 1124 (97%) | 0.088 |
| Migrainous features | |||
| Nausea/vomiting | Yes 103 (23%) | Yes 338 (29%) | 0.013 |
| Photophobia or phonophobia | Yes 208 (47%) | Yes 596 (52%) | 0.075 |
| Worsening with physical activity | Yes 135 (30%) | Yes 368 (32%) | 0.549 |
| Mood scores | |||
| HDSQ score | 21.1 ± 15.2 | 24.5 ± 16.9 | <0.001* |
| BDI score | 12.9 ± 10.1 | 14.9 ± 11.3 | 0.003 |
| Treatment response—acute medications a | |||
| Triptans (n = 1193) | 3.4 ± 1.2 | 3.4 ± 1.1 | 0.346 |
| Oxygen (n = 1082) | 3.4 ± 1.0 | 3.4 ± 1.1 | 0.634 |
| Dihydroergotamine (n = 170) | 2.2 ± 1.2 | 2.4 ± 1.3 | 0.398 |
| Cafergot/ergotamine (n = 303) | 2.0 ± 1.3 | 2.1 ± 1.1 | 0.213 |
| Intranasal ketamine (n = 37) | 1.7 ± 1.1 | 2.3 ± 1.1 | 0.217 |
| Opioids (n = 541) | 1.9 ± 1.0 | 1.8 ± 1.0 | 0.217 |
| Intranasal capsaicin (n = 151) | 1.8 ± 0.9 | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 0.155 |
| Caffeine & energy drinks (n = 43) | 2.7 ± 0.9 | 2.8 ± 0.7 | 0.820 |
| Intranasal lidocaine (n = 241) | 1.7 ± 0.7 | 1.6 ± 0.8 | 0.496 |
| Treatment response—preventive medications a | |||
| Corticosteroids (n = 753) | 2.8 ± 1.2 | 2.6 ± 1.2 | 0.098 |
| Calcium channel blockers (n = 987) | 2.5 ± 1.1 | 2.2 ± 1.1 | <0.001* |
| Methysergide/methylergonavine (n = 161) | 2.2 ± 1.4 | 1.8 ± 1.1 | 0.291 |
| Anti‐epileptics (n = 586) | 1.8 ± 1.0 | 1.7 ± 0.9 | 0.218 |
| Lithium (n = 304) | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 1.7 ± 1.0 | 0.824 |
| Testosterone (n = 53) | 1.7 ± 1.1 | 1.6 ± 1.0 | 0.834 |
| Beta‐blockers (n = 372) | 1.6 ± 0.8 | 1.4 ± 0.8 | 0.012 |
Data reported as either “average ± standard deviation” or as “total number (% of total).”
a
Treatment responses were scaled from 1 to 5 (1. completely ineffective, 2. minimally effective, 3. somewhat effective, 4. very effective, 5. completely effective); means (between 1 and 5), standard deviations, and p values for treatment are shown here, full data are shown in Table S4.
*
A p value <0.001 was considered significant after Bonferroni correction.
Abbreviations: BDI, Beck Depression Inventory‐II; CH, Cluster Headache; HDSQ, Hopelessness Depression Symptom Questionnaire.