ABSTRACT
Background: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Chinese patients with pre-existing headache remains unclear. The present study investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on headache patients in China.Methods: A survey was conducted through an online survey platform from June 6, 2020. Demographic characteristics, PHQ-9 scores, ISI scores, COVID-19 questionnaires and headache profile section were included in the online questionnaires.Results: Eventually a total of 15,000 participants from China completed the online questionnaire. Among them, 2806 participants (18.71%) had preexisting headache disorders. Our analysis showed a reality of those participants with remission of headache duration (3.414±6.859 vs 4.033±7.325, P=0.000), headache days per month (1.788±2.989 vs 2.092±3.694, P=0.000), and headache intensity (4.110±1.609 vs 4.290±1.680, P=0.000), during COVID-19. Smoking (OR=1.397, 95% CI 1.090 to 1.790, P=0.008) and getting support from family members during the social isolation (OR=1.656, 95% CI 1.075 to 2.550, P=0.022) were the independent factors of remission in headache duration. Education level (OR=1.478, 95% CI 1.103 to 1.980, P=0.009) and having relative or acquaintance got COVID-19 (OR=0.643, 95% CI 0.458 to 0.902, P=0.011) were the independent factors of remission in headache severity. And participants living in Wuhan area, having COVID-19 symptoms or COVID-19 diagnosis and having relative or acquaintance got COVID-19 are more likely to get headache deteriorated.Conclusions: Participants presented an overall trend of headache remission during COVID-19. Family supports played an important role in headache remission.