Background The global status of the COVID-19 pandemic is not optimistic. This is a particularly vulnerable time for patients with pre-existing headache disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on headache patients in China. Methods A survey was conducted through an online survey platform on June 6, 2020. Demographic characteristics, the PHQ-9, the ISI, a COVID-19 questionnaire and a headache profile survey were included in the online questionnaire. Results Eventually, a total of 15,000 participants from China completed the online questionnaire. Among them, 2806 participants had pre-existing headache disorders. Our analysis showed reductions in the duration of headaches (3.414 ± 6.859 vs 4.033 ± 7.325 h, P <0.001), number of headache days per month (1.788 ± 2.989 vs 2.092 ± 3.694, P <0.001), and headache intensity (4.110 ± 1.609 vs 4.290 ± 1.680, P <0.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Smoking (OR = 1.397, 95% CI 1.090 to 1.790, P = 0.008) and getting support from family members during social isolation (OR = 1.656, 95% CI 1.075 to 2.550, P = 0.022) were independent factors affecting the reduction in the duration of headaches. Education level (OR = 1.478, 95% CI 1.103 to 1.980, P = 0.009) and having a relative or acquaintance who contracted COVID-19 (OR = 0.643, 95% CI 0.458 to 0.902, P = 0.011) were the independent factors affecting the reduction in headache severity. Living in the Wuhan area, having symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19 and having relatives or acquaintances who had contracted COVID-19 were associated with the worsening of headaches. Conclusions Participants experienced an overall trend towards the improvement of headaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family support might play an important role in the improvement of headaches. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-021-02216-6.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, headache, Impact, Remission, Family support, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, severity, social isolation, Symptom, education, China, Characteristics, Wuhan, Patient, demographic, questionnaire, Analysis, PHQ-9, Support, intensity, Headaches, Factor, supplementary material, 95% CI, disorders, worsening, participant, ISI, independent, Result, conducted, reductions in, reduction in, affecting, diagnosis of COVID-19, survey platform, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, Support, highlight, Chinese patient,