Primary headache types in adult epilepsy patients

Schiller, Katharina and Rauchenzauner, Markus and Avidgor, Tamir and Hannan, Sana and Lorenzen, Carlo and Kaml, Manuela and Walser, Gerald and Unterberger, Iris and Filippi, Vera and Broessner, Gregor and Luef, Gerhard (2023) Primary headache types in adult epilepsy patients. European Journal of Medical Research, 28: 49. ISSN 2047-783X

Abstract

Background Headache is among the most common comorbidities in epilepsy. This study examined the distribution of different primary headache disorders in a large cohort of patients with diagnosed epilepsy. Headache types were analysed with regard to gender, type of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Methods In this prospective single-centre study, 500 patients with epilepsy (250 female, mean age: 45.52 ± 17.26 years) were evaluated with regards to primary headache types using a validated German headache questionnaire categorizing for migraine (MIG), tension-type headache (TTH) or trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC), their combinations and unclassifiable headache. Data regarding type of epilepsy, seizure-associated headache, AED treatment and seizure freedom were collected. Results Of 500 patients with epilepsy, 163 (32.6%) patients (108 female and 55 male) reported suffering from headaches at least 1 day per month. MIG (without aura, with aura) and TTH were the most frequent headache type (MIG 33.1%, TTH 33.1%). Female epilepsy patients reported headaches significantly more often than male patients (x2 = 8.20, p = 0.0042). In contrast, the type of epilepsy did not significantly affect headache distribution. Of 163 patients with headache, 66 (40.5%) patients reported seizure-associated headache and AEDs were used by 157 patients. Of importance, patients with AED monotherapy suffered from MIG less often when compared to patients on polytherapy (x2 = 4.79, p = 0.028). Conclusion MIG and TTH are the most common headache types in epilepsy patients and headache is more frequent among female epilepsy patients. Monotherapy in AEDs might have a beneficial effect on the frequency of headache compared to polytherapy.