Abstract
Background
Headache is the most common COVID-19-related neurological symptom. We investigated the characteristics of COVID-19-related headache and their relationship with clinical severity in Kırşehir Province, Turkey.
Methods
This cross-sectional study prospectively enrolled 226 COVID-19-positive patients who developed headache during acute infection. Demographic data, headache characteristics, and infection symptoms were recorded. The clinical severity of COVID-19 was documented in each participant.
Result
New-onset COVID-19-related headaches lasting 4 days were reported in 164 patients (72.5 %); these were mostly bilaterally or localized to the forehead (58.4 %), pulsating (42.5 %), moderate to severe intensity (30.1 %), with a partial response to paracetamol (23.5 %). The other 62 patients (27.4 %) reported headaches before COVID-19. Their COVID-related headaches were fiery type (p = 0.025), of very severe intensity (p = 0.008), had a holocranial distribution (p = 0.004), and were less response to paracetamol (p = 0.003); the headaches were significantly more frequent after COVID-19 than before COVID-19. Older age, high body mass index, and low education level were significantly higher in the severe group (all p < 0.001). Female sex (p = 0.019) and being a healthcare worker (p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent in mild cases.
Conclusions
Bilateral, prolonged, moderate to severe headaches that were analgesic resistant are more frequent in patients with COVID-19 infection. Further study should examine whether the headache characteristics distinguish COVID-19-related headaches from other types, particularly in asymptomatic subjects.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 virus, headache, neurological manifestations, neuroinvasion, 【초록키워드】 cross-sectional, Infection, Sex, Symptom, Turkey, healthcare worker, body mass index, Characteristics, acute infection, Patient, age, distribution, demographic, moderate, Clinical severity, neurological, Paracetamol, intensity, asymptomatic subjects, severe group, mild cases, Result, enrolled, significantly more, reported, investigated, less, significantly higher, were recorded, Bilateral, patients with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 cross-sectional, pattern,