Cefalea en jóvenes: características clínicas en una serie de 651 casos / Headache in young patients: Clinical characteristics of a series of 651 cases

Introducción: La cefalea produce un impacto negativo sobre la calidad de vida de los jóvenes. Nuestro objetivo es analizar las características de esta población en una consulta monográfica de cefaleas (CMC) y evaluar la carga de las diferentes cefaleas codificadas según la Clasificación Internacional de Cefaleas (CIC). Métodos: Durante un período de 6 años y medio, se han registrado los pacientes de edades entre los 14 y los 25 años atendidos en la CMC recogiendo de cada uno de ellos el sexo, pruebas complementarias y tratamiento utilizado previamente. Se llevó a cabo la comparación de las características de esta población con la de mayores de 25 años. Resultados: Seiscientos cincuenta y un pacientes de entre 14 y 25 años fueron atendidos durante el período de inclusión; el 95,6% había recibido tratamiento sintomático y el 30,1% tratamiento preventivo. Setecientas cincuenta y cinco cefaleas fueron registradas, 80 fueron cefaleas secundarias, la mayoría codificadas en el grupo 8. El 77,2% de ellas fueron incluidas en el grupo 1, el 3,1% en el grupo 2, el 1,2% en el grupo 3 y el 5% en el grupo 4. El 0,6% de ellas fueron clasificadas en el grupo 13 y el 0,9% en el grupo 14. En 449 pacientes la puntuación del Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) mostró al menos un impacto moderado sobre la calidad de vida. Conclusión: La mayoría de las cefaleas en jóvenes podrían ser codificadas de acuerdo con los criterios de la CIC. La migraña fue el diagnóstico más frecuente. Aunque la cefalea fue comúnmente asociada con impacto negativo en la calidad de vida, los tratamientos preventivos no fueron utilizados extensamente antes de ser derivados a la CMC

Introduction: Headache has a negative impact on health-related quality of life in young patients. We aim to analyse the characteristics of a series of young patients visiting a headache clinic and estimate the burden of different types of headaches listed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD). Methods: We prospectively recruited patients aged 14 to 25 years who were treated at our clinic during a period of 6.5 years. We recorded each patient's sex, complementary test results, and previous treatment. We subsequently compared the characteristics of our sample to those of patients older than 25. Results: During the study period, we treated 651 patients aged 14 to 25 years; 95.6% had received symptomatic treatment, and 30.1% had received preventive treatment. A total of 755 headaches were recorded. Only 80 were secondary headaches, most of which were included in Group 8; 77.2% were included in Group 1, 3.1% in Group 2, 1.2% in Group 3, 5% in Group 4, 0.6% in Group 13, and 0.9% in Group 14. According to Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) scores, headache had at least a moderate impact on the quality of life of 449 patients. Conclusion: Most headaches in young patients can be classified according to ICHD criteria. Migraine was the most frequent diagnosis in our sample. Although headache was commonly associated with a negative impact on quality of life, most patients had received little preventive treatment before being referred to our clinic

Headache in young patients: Clinical characteristics of a series of 651 cases. / Cefalea en jóvenes: características clínicas en una serie de 651 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Headache has a negative impact on health-related quality of life in young patients. We aim to analyse the characteristics of a series of young patients visiting a headache clinic and estimate the burden of different types of headaches listed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD). METHODS: We prospectively recruited patients aged 14 to 25 years who were treated at our clinic during a period of 6.5 years. We recorded each patient's sex, complementary test results, and previous treatment. We subsequently compared the characteristics of our sample to those of patients older than 25. RESULTS: During the study period, we treated 651 patients aged 14 to 25 years; 95.6% had received symptomatic treatment, and 30.1% had received preventive treatment. A total of 755 headaches were recorded. Only 80 were secondary headaches, most of which were included in Group 8; 77.2% were included in Group 1, 3.1% in Group 2, 1.2% in Group 3, 5% in Group 4, 0.6% in Group 13, and 0.9% in Group 14. According to Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) scores, headache had at least a moderate impact on the quality of life of 449 patients. CONCLUSION: Most headaches in young patients can be classified according to ICHD criteria. Migraine was the most frequent diagnosis in our sample. Although headache was commonly associated with a negative impact on quality of life, most patients had received little preventive treatment before being referred to our clinic.