Evolving migraine management: Lithuania's telemedicine experience.

Introduction: COVID-19 challenges have underscored the potential of telemedicine in migraine management. This study focuses on assessing patients' telemedicine experience for headache management in Lithuania and identifying key barriers and facilitators for its wider use. Methods: A nationwide e-survey was conducted in 2023 via the Lithuanian Association of Migraine Patients' website, social media platforms, websites of public and private healthcare facilities, and migraine self-help groups. The survey covered sociodemographics, migraine characteristics, previous experience with teleconsultations for headaches with neurologists and general practitioners (GP), perceived advantages and disadvantages of telehealth, and preferred future consultation types. Results: Eight hundred and forty seven respondents with a confirmed migraine diagnosis were analyzed. The majority were female (97.2%), with a median age of 35 (IQR 30-42) years and an average of 5 (IQR 3-9) monthly headache days (MHDs). 7.0% of respondents had chronic migraine (CM). Prior teleconsultations for headaches were reported by 35.2% of respondents, 26.2% with a GP and 17.0% with a neurologist (p < 0.0001). Teleconsultation outcomes included continuation of a prescribed treatment (84.7% for GPs and 83.3% for neurologists, p = 0.7295), initiation of new acute medications (12.2% for GPs with 70.4% reported as effective and 27.1% for neurologists with 84.6% effective, p = 0.0005 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Reasons for not undergoing remote neurology consultations: the lack of inquiry (69.7%), unavailability from neurologists (18.1%) and respondent's opposition to remote consultations (12.2%). Patients evaluated their experience with remote neurology services better than that of GPs (p = 0.0289). 67.3% of respondents preferred a mixed-mode approach for future consultations. In-person-only preference (29.0%) correlated with multiple factors, including history of remote primary neurology consultations (OR 5.89, p = 0.0022), lower education (OR 2.20, p = 0.0001), physically demanding work (OR 1.95, p = 0.0001), and number of drawbacks in telemedicine identified (OR 1.30, p < 0.0001), and worse experience of a prior remote GP consultation (OR 0.704, p < 0.0001). The main indicator of preference for remote-only consultations was the perception of fewer telemedicine disadvantages (OR 0.503, p = 0.0007). Conclusions: Our findings confirm that telemedicine contributes to effective migraine management and is used limitedly in Lithuania. Despite one-third of respondents having experienced teleconsultations, significant barriers remain. Our study highlights a clear preference for a hybrid consultation type.

Case report: Late onset type 3 hemiplegic migraine with permanent neurologic sequelae after attacks.

This case study describes a 57-year-old woman with a six-year history of recurrent episodes characterized by visual, sensory, speech disturbances, hemiparesis and severe one-sided headaches accompanied by fever and altered consciousness. Initially misdiagnosed as a stroke, the atypical disease course and MRI findings led to additional genetic testing which revealed a sodium voltage-gated channel gene mutation (T1174S), confirming a diagnosis of sporadic hemiplegic migraine. The migraine prophylaxis showed some improvement in episode frequency and severity. Despite an initial improvement, the patient underwent severe cognitive decline and developed new permanent neurological symptoms during the subsequent 7 years of follow-up.

Accuracy of migraine diagnosis and treatment by neurologists in the Baltic states: e-survey with clinical case challenge.

BACKGROUND: Underdiagnosis of migraine causes a significant health burden, including lower quality of life, excessive medication use, and a delay in effective treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate migraine diagnosis accuracy and to review the treatment approaches used by neurologists in the Baltic states. METHODS: The research was conducted as an anonymous e-survey with four cases in March and April 2021. RESULTS: 119 practicing adult neurologists have participated. The migraine diagnostic accuracy was 63.2%. The most commonly used diagnostic criteria were moderate/severe pain, unilateral pain, and disruption of daily activities. Diagnostic accuracy did not differ significantly between neurologists who always use ICHD-3 criteria and those who don't (68.4% vs. 58.5%, p = 0.167). It was higher in neurologists who were working in headache centers (91.7% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.012), and was related to a higher percentage of migraine diagnoses in all consulted headache patients (R2 = 0.202, adjusted R2 = 0.195, p < 0.001), prophylaxis with onabotulinumtoxin A [OR = 4.332, 95% Cl (1.588-11.814)], and anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies [OR = 2.862, 95% Cl (1.186-6.907)]. CONCLUSIONS: Migraine diagnostic accuracy is improved through practical patient counseling and modern treatment prescription. Although the neurologists in the Baltic states follow current European guidelines, there is room for improvement in diagnostic accuracy to reduce migraine burden.

COVID-19 pandemic: Impact of quarantine on migraine and patients' care in Lithuania.

OBJECTIVE: there is a scarcity of data regarding the long-term (one year or more) impact of COVID-19 related quarantine on migraine burden. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the impact of quarantine on migraine course, and the implications of a shift in migraine patients' care. METHODS: An anonymous online survey of 206 migraine patients in Lithuania was undertaken in April 2021. RESULTS: During quarantine, 42.2% of respondents reported migraine worsening, 17.0% - migraine improvement, and 40.8% reported no change. The most common causes of improvement specified by respondents were improved sleep, increased physical activity, and better eating habits. The most common reasons for migraine worsening were decreased physical activity, use of masks and respirators, and anxiety about own health. Logistic regression revealed that the changes in migraine course were associated not only with the migraine severity and educational level, but also with lifestyle alterations such as changes in sleep, the use of personal protective equipment, and increased home workload. A quarter of respondents were unable to consult a doctor. Patients who failed this started using more analgesics (65.0% and 55.0%, p = 0.004). Almost one-third of consultations were conducted over the telephone. Treatment changes were more common during face-to-face than remote consultations (63.6% and 18.2%, p = 0.009), however, the efficacy of treatment changes did not differ significantly (61.9% and 50.0%, p = 0.741). CONCLUSION: we found an overall rise in migraine burden because of lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 related quarantine. Inability to visit a doctor led to the emergence of remote consultations.

Testing for Thrombophilia in Young Cryptogenic Stroke Patients: Does the Presence of Patent Foramen Ovale Make a Difference?

Background and Objectives: The diagnostic value of thrombophilia remains unknown in young patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and stroke. In this study we hypothesized that inherited thrombophilias that lead to venous thrombosis are more prevalent in patients with PFO. Materials and Methods: The study included patients of the tertiary center Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos who had a cryptogenic ischemic stroke between the ages of 18 and 50 between the years 2008 and 2021. Transient ischemic attacks were excluded. Contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler ultrasound and extensive laboratory testing were performed. Results: The study included 161 cryptogenic stroke patients (mean age 39.2 ± 7.6 years; 54% female), and a right-to-left shunt was found in 112 (69.6%). The mean time between stroke and thrombophilia testing was 210 days (median 98 days). In total, 61 (39.8%) patients were diagnosed with thrombophilia. The most common finding was hyperhomocysteinemia (26.7%), 14.3% of which were genetically confirmed. Two patients (1.2%) were diagnosed with factor V Leiden mutation, three patients (1.9%) with prothrombin G20210A mutation, one patient (0.6%) had a protein C mutation and one patient (0.6%) had a protein S mutation. No antithrombin mutations were diagnosed in our study population. A total of 45.5% of patients with inherited thrombophilia had a right-to-left shunt, while 54.5% did not, p = 0.092. Personal thrombosis anamnesis was positive significantly more often in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. Conclusions: The hypothesis of the study was rejected since inherited venous thrombophilia was not significantly more common in patients with PFO. Due to the rarity of thrombophilias in general, more research with a larger sample size is required to further verify our findings.

Risk factors for development of personal protective equipment induced headache: e-survey of medical staff in Baltic states.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among medical personnel. The goal of this study was to determine the risk factors and frequency of PPE-induced headache during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: From January 25 to March 1, 2021, an anonymous online survey was undertaken in the Baltic states. RESULTS: In total, 2132 individuals participated. 52.3% experienced a PPE-induced headache. Usual onset time was between 2-3 h, lasting up to 1 h after PPE removal. The most common localization was in temporal and frontal regions. Headache usually occurred 2 to 3 days per week with an average pain score of 5.04 ± 1.80 points. Higher risk was associated with discomfort/pressure OR = 11.55, heat stress OR = 2.228, skin conditions OR = 1.784, long PPE use (duration 10-12 h) OR = 2,18, headache history prior PPE use OR = 1.207. Out of 52.3% respondents with PPE-induced headache, 45.5% developed de novo headache, whereas 54.5% had headache history. Statistically significant differences of PPE-induced headache between respective groups included severity (4.73 vs 5.29), duration (≥ 6 h 6.7% vs 8.2%), accompanying symptoms (nausea (19.3% vs 25.7%), photophobia (19.1% vs 25.7%), phonophobia (15.8% vs 23.5%), osmophobia (5.3% vs 12.0%)) and painkiller use (43.0% vs 61.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Over half of the medical personnel reported headache while using PPE. The risk was higher in individuals with headache history, increased duration of PPE use and discomfort while using PPE. Predisposed individuals reported PPE-induced headache which persisted longer, was more intense and debilitating than in the respondents with de novo headache.

Subspecialty training of neurology residents and junior neurologists in the Baltic States.

BACKGROUND: Neurology is a field of increasing subspecialization. There is no published data regarding the proportion of neurology subspecialists in the Baltic States. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify factors associated with neurology subspecialty choice, to examine possible differences between neurology residents' and junior neurologists' view of subspecialty, and to assess perceived subspecialty acquisition opportunities and subspecialty attractiveness. METHODS: The research was conducted as an anonymous online survey between December 28, 2020, and January 24, 2021 of neurology residents and neurologists who completed their residency during the last 5 years in the Baltic States. RESULTS: In total, 72 residents and 65 neurologists participated. "Cerebrovascular diseases" and "multiple sclerosis and autoimmune diseases of the nervous system" were rated as the two most attractive subspecialties by residents, whereas "headache" and "clinical neurophysiology" were the most attractive among junior neurologists. "Vertigo and dizziness" and "dementia" were ranked the least attractive among both groups. "Cerebrovascular diseases" were perceived as having the most acquisition opportunities. The two most common determinants of subspecialty choice were "medical content of the subspecialty" and "influence of mentor during undergraduate studies or residency". CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of junior neurologists subspecialize in at least one subspecialty, and one-third of residents are already determined to pursue subspecialty training. Junior neurologists rated most outpatient-related subspecialties as more attractive than neurology residents. Between the Baltic States' universities, there was a significant difference in the number of residents who were determined to pursue subspecialty training.