Headache in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: effects of chronic hypoxaemia

Abstract

The frequency and characteristics of headache in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not clear and there are only a few studies that have assessed the relationship between chronic hypoxaemia and headache. We performed this study in order to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of headache in COPD patients. A total of 119 patients, with a mean age of 63.4 ± 8.2 years, diagnosed with moderate or severe stable COPD were included in the study. Overall 31.9% of the patients complained of headache and 45.4% were reported to have sleep disorders. There were significant effects of family history of COPD, having other systemic disorders or sleep disorders (snoring, bruxism, restless leg syndrome, etc.) and laboratory data of chronic hypoxaemia and airway obstruction on headache co–morbidity. In conclusion, possibly being a specific subtype of elderly headache, headache in patients with moderate or severe COPD is a common problem and future studies are needed to obtain more knowledge about its pathophysiological and clinical basis.

Is Headache Related to Asthma, Hay Fever, and Chronic Bronchitis? The Head‐HUNT Study

“…In a case‐control study the relative risk of COPD in patients with migraine was 1.2 8 . Furthermore, in a study of patients with moderate to severe COPD, headache, mainly of tension type, was a common problem 14 . The association between chronic bronchitis and headache demonstrated in the present study might be explained by a specific comorbidity, by common life‐style, environmental, or occupational factors 37 .…”

“…Furthermore, the impact of frequent headache on the association has been investigated in children 4 but not in adults. Regarding possible associations between headache and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) there are only 2 previous clinic‐based studies indicating an association with headache 8,14 …”

Pain and quality of life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Several studies have used the BPI in investigating pain in different comorbidities. Some have also investigated the cutoff points of mild (0-4), moderate (5-6), and severe pain (7)(8)(9)(10). 29,39 In the present study, the mean score was 3.7 for pain intensity and 3.9 for interference.…”

“…A qualitative study found that unrelieved pain was a problem in patients with COPD. 7 There are also papers reporting on pain-related problems in those with COPD, such as headaches 8 and discomfort in legs during activity and in respiratory muscles. 9 However, there is sparse knowledge about the intensity, location, and nature of pain in patients with COPD.…”

Pseudo-subarachnoid haemorrhage due to chronic hypoxaemia: case report and review of the literature

“…The headache of our patient fulfilled the criteria of chronic tension headache. However, considering the underlying disorders of the patient and the associations of headaches with polycythaemia, chronic lung diseases and hypoxia as experienced at great altitude [ 38 - 42 ], a secondary headache attributed to hypoxia/hypercapnia with the phenotype of tension headache was the more likely diagnosis. Either way, therapy could only be symptomatic.…”