Objective To assess telehealth practice for headache visits in the United States. Background The rapid roll out of telehealth during the COVID‐19 pandemic impacted headache specialists. Methods American Headache Society (AHS) members were emailed an anonymous survey (9/9/20–10/12/20) to complete if they had logged ≥2 months or 50+ headache visits via telehealth. Results Out of 1348 members, 225 (16.7%) responded. Most were female (59.8%; 113/189). Median age was 47 (interquartile range [IQR] 37–57) (N = 154). The majority were MD/DOs (83.7%; 159/190) or NP/PAs (14.7%; 28/190), and most (65.1%; 123/189) were in academia. Years in practice were 0–3: 28; 4–10: 58; 11–20: 42; 20+: 61. Median number of telehealth visits was 120 (IQR 77.5–250) in the prior 3 months. Respondents were “comfortable/very comfortable” treating via telehealth (a) new patient with a chief complaint of headache (median, IQR 4 [3–5]); (b) follow‐up for migraine (median, IQR 5 [5–5]); (c) follow‐up for secondary headache (median, IQR 4 [3–4]). About half (51.1%; 97/190) offer urgent telehealth. Beyond being unable to perform procedures, top barriers were conducting parts of the neurologic exam (157/189), absence of vital signs (117/189), and socioeconomic/technologic barriers (91/189). Top positive attributes were patient convenience (185/190), reducing patient travel stress (172/190), patient cost reduction (151/190), flexibility with personal matters (128/190), patient comfort at home (114/190), and patient medications nearby (103/190). Only 21.3% (33/155) of providers said telehealth visit length differed from in‐person visits, and 55.3% (105/190) believe that the no‐show rate improved. On a 1–5 Likert scale, providers were “interested”/“very interested” in digitally prescribing headache apps (median 4, IQR 3–5) and “interested”/“very interested” in remotely monitoring patient symptoms (median 4, IQR 3–5). Conclusions Respondents were comfortable treating patients with migraine via telehealth. They note positive attributes for patients and how access may be improved. Technology innovations (remote vital signs, digitally prescribing headache apps) and remote symptom monitoring are areas of interest and warrant future research.
Purpose of Review Migraine is primary headache which commonly affects women of childbearing age. Migraine and other primary headache disorders are also common during pregnancy. Understanding which treatments are effective and can be safely given to patients with primary headache during pregnancy and lactation is essential in supporting these patients before, during, and after childbirth. Behavioral modalities have the potential to improve the health of both mother and baby, while empowering patients to make informed decisions in family planning and creating future treatment plans. Recent Findings Research shows that behavioral therapies can be powerful tools to treat pain conditions with minimal side effects. Recent literature prioritizes behavioral therapies in preparation for pregnancy, during pregnancy, and during lactation due to the superior safety profile of such therapies. Digital resources for behavioral therapy are another well-received recent direction supported by growing evidence of both efficacy and safety. Popular with patients and headache specialists, digital behavioral therapy has taken various forms during the pandemic, such as telemedicine, online psychology support groups, and smartphone applications that patients can interact with on their own time. Summary In summary, the purpose of this review is to equip providers with important information and updates on the use of behavioral modalities for the treatment of primary headache during pregnancy and lactation.
Purpose of Review Migraine is and continues to be a significant medical issue in older adults. Migraine can have different characteristics in older adults and specific diagnostic and treatment considerations need to be applied when managing headache and migraine in this population, which is increasing in both size and diversity. Contrary to widely held beliefs, migraine may not improve in older women following menopause and can have new onset in older age. The purpose of this review is to give an update on the diagnosis and treatment of episodic migraine in older adults. Recent Findings As the population ages, migraine in older adults will become a more significant public health issue. Migraine in older adults can present with different clinical symptoms than in a younger population and is primarily a diagnosis of exclusion in older adults. Migraine treatment considerations for older adults should include comorbidities and medication interactions. Recent findings suggest there are medications that should be avoided when treating seniors with migraine. Summary The purpose of this review is to give an update on the most important aspects regarding the diagnosis and treatment of headache and migraine in older adults. In addition, recommendations will be made concerning medications that need careful consideration when prescribing to seniors.
Objective This is a small pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of an intravenous (IV) valproate sodium therapy protocol for migraine prevention in a population of patients with chronic migraine refractory to multiple preventive medications. Background Valproate sodium is an anti‐epileptic and mood stabilizer that has been shown to prevent migraine when used daily in oral form. The specific mechanism of action in migraine is unknown, but it may be related to suppressing inflammation and increasing brain Gamma‐aminobutyric acid levels. It also may relate to its ability to suppress cortical spreading depression. Multiple studies have suggested that valproic acid and its derivatives may inhibit Calcitonin gene‐related peptide. In the present work, we undertook a small pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of an IV valproate sodium therapy for migraine prevention in a population of patients with chronic migraine refractory to multiple preventive medications. Methods Fourteen adult patients with chronic migraine were admitted for a 4‐day course of IV valproate sodium. Patients received 250 mg of valproate sodium over a standard infusion time of 60 minutes every 8 hours. Most patients received 9 doses over the 4‐day course of treatment. One patient had to discontinue after 1 dose of 250‐mg valproate sodium, as this patient experienced an increase in his previous symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and vertigo with his first dose. To avoid positive selection bias, we evaluated the first admission for valproate IV therapy in patients with multiple admissions; there was 1 patient with 2 admissions and 1 with 3 admissions for IV valproate sodium. Of note – all admission outcomes for these patients were similar. Headache diaries were reviewed from 1 month before, during, and approximately 2 months after their admission. Statistical Analyses Due to the observational nature of the study and small sample size, we did not think that quantitative statistical analysis would add more meaning to this pilot study. Formal quantitative statistical analysis was not performed in this study and descriptive statistical analysis was used due to this being a pilot proof of concept study. Physician clinical judgment in combination with patient reports were used to assign a dichotomous conclusion on clinical improvement for each patient. In the future, we plan to create a larger study, including additional treatment groups for control, such as IV Dihydroergotamine or IV Chlorpromazine, in order to quantify improvement of symptoms. Results A total of 9 out of 13 (69%) patients had an improvement in their headache post‐admission and reported a reduction in headache frequency, intensity, and/or use of acute medications 4‐6 weeks following their admissions. A total of 5 out of 13 (38%) patients also reported an improvement in headache intensity during the 4‐day period of inpatient admission. The other 8 out of 13 (62%) patients reported stable headache pattern. One patient had feelings of restlessness, which improved with prolongation of infusi...
The objectives of the study are to investigate the incidence of new or worsening headache after cochlear implant (CI) surgery and activation and to determine whether there are predictors of associated headache. We performed a cross-sectional survey of patients who had CI surgery. The frequency and severity of headache, onset of headache relative to surgery and device activation, medication use, family history, headache triggers, and accompanying cranial autonomic symptoms were recorded and analyzed. Thirty-seven subjects were enrolled. In the time period after CI surgery but before CI activation, none reported a new headache and four (11%) reported a worsening headache. After CI activation, six (16%) developed new headache and five (14%) developed worsening headache. These 11 subjects also experienced a significantly higher mean of 6.3 headache days/month following CI activation ( p < 0.009). Providers should be aware that new or worsening headache can be reported following CI activation, although not immediately following CI surgery.
Background Patients with headache often seek urgent medical care to treat pain and associated symptoms that do not respond to therapeutic options at home. Urgent Cares (UCs) may be suitable for the evaluation and treatment of such patients but there is little data on how headache is evaluated in UC settings and what types of treatments are available. We conducted a study to evaluate the types of care available for patients with headache presenting to UCs. Design Cross-Sectional. Methods Headache specialists across the United States contacted UCs to collect data on a questionnaire. Questions asked about UC staffing (e.g. number and backgrounds of staff, hours of operation), average length of UC visits for headache, treatments and tests available for patients presenting with headache, and disposition including to the ED. Results Data from 10 UC programs comprised of 61 individual UC sites revealed: The vast majority (8/10; 80%) had diagnostic testing onsite for headache evaluation. A small majority (6/10; 60%) had the American Headache Society recommended intravenous medications for acute migraine available. Half (5/10) had a headache protocol in place. The majority (6/10; 60%) had no follow up policy after UC discharge. Conclusions UCs have the potential to provide expedited care for patients presenting for evaluation and treatment of headache. However, considerable variability exists amongst UCs in their abilities to manage headaches. This study reveals many opportunities for future research including the development of protocols and professional partnerships to help guide the evaluation, triage, and treatment of patients with headache in UC settings.
ObjectiveTo evaluate if inpatient infusion treatments for patients with chronic migraine (CM) and history of head trauma and endocrine abnormalities can lead to headache improvement.BackgroundMany patients with CM and history of head trauma have endocrine co-morbidities that can interfere with successful management of headache. In this study, we evaluated if inpatient infusion treatments improved headache outcomes for this patient population.Design/MethodsRetrospective chart review of patients admitted and treated with 4–5 days of intravenous (IV) Dihydroergotamine (DHE), Chlorpromazine, or Valproate for headache. All cases were presented at the Headache Center Case Conference before admission, and plans for addressing co-morbidities were discussed with appropriate specialists and primary care providers. Co-morbidities addressed included diabetes mellitus, pituitary and thyroid dysfunction and endometriosis. During admission, vital signs and appropriate lab work such as serum glucose, thyroid, liver and renal function were monitored. Lifestyle recommendations provided during admission and appropriate follow ups after discharge were arranged with Headache Clinic, primary care, and specialists, when applicable.Results53 patients with CM were included in the analysis. 12 (22.6%) of the 53 patients had both reported history of head trauma and endocrine comorbidity. Of these 12 patients, 8 (66.7%) had improvement in headache up to 6 weeks after admission. Of the 8 that improved, 6 (75%) received DHE and 2 (25%) received Chlorpromazine.ConclusionsInpatient infusion treatments for patients who have CM with history of head trauma and endocrine abnormalities can lead to headache improvement, potentially due to IV infusion therapy along with holistic approaches which include addressing co-morbidities and education on lifestyle modifications. Future studies are needed to evaluate if specific endocrine system dysfunction can predict outcomes from repetitive infusion therapy for persistent headache in patients with CM and a reported history of head trauma.
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