The MIGREX study: Prevalence and risk factors of sexual dysfunction among migraine patients.

BACKGROUND: Migraine attacks have a high impact on daily activities. There is limited research on the burden of migraine on sexual functioning. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with migraine and its relationship with migraine features and comorbidities. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study. We included migraine patients between 18 and 60 years-old from 8 Headache Clinics in Spain. We recorded demographic data and migraine features. Patients fulfilled a survey including comorbidities, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a questionnaire about migraine impact on sexual activity. A K-nearest neighbor supervised learning algorithm was used to identify differences between migraine patients with and without sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: We included 306 patients (85.6% women, mean age 42.3±11.1 years). A 41.8% of participants had sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction was associated with being female (OR [95% CI]: 2.42 [1.17-5.00]; p<0.001), being older than 46.5 years (4.04 [2.48-6.59]; p<0.001), having chronic migraine (2.31 [1.41-3.77]; p=0.001), using preventive medication (2.45 [1.35-4.45]; p=0.004), analgesic overusing (3.51 [2.03-6.07]; p<0.001), menopause (4.18 [2.43-7.17]; p<0.001) and anxiety (2.90 [1.80-4.67]; p<0.001) and depression (6.14 [3.18-11.83]; p<0.001). However, only female gender, age, menopause and depression were the statistically significant variables selected in the model to classify migraine patients with or without sexual dysfunction (Accuracy [95% CI]: 0.75 (0.62-0.85), Kappa: 0.48, p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction is frequent in migraine patients visited in a headache clinic. However, migraine characteristics or use of preventive medication are not directly associated with sexual dysfunction. Instead, risk factors for sexual dysfunction were female gender, higher age, menopause and depression.

Evaluation of the burden of migraine on the partner's lifestyle.

BACKGROUND: Despite the number of research studies regarding the individual burden of migraine, few studies have examined its impact on the patients' partners. We aim to assess migraine effects on the patients' partners on sentimental relationship, children relationship, friendship, and work, as well as the caregiver burden, anxiety and/or depression. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted through an online survey of partners of patients with migraine followed-up in 5 Headache Units. Questions about the 4 areas of interest and 2 scales (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Zarit scale) were included. Scores were compared against the population prevalence. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-five answers were analysed. Among the patient's partners 135/155 (87.1%) were men, with a mean age of 45.6 ± 10.1 years. Migraine's main effects on partners were observed in the sentimental relationship and items concerning children and friendships, with a minor impact at work. Partners showed a moderate burden (12/155 = 7.7% [4.1%-13.1%]), and a higher moderate-severe anxiety rate (23/155 = 14.8% [9.6%-21.4%]), and similar depression rate (5/155 = 3.2% [1.1%-7.3%]) compared to the National Health Survey. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of migraine impacts the partners' personal relationship, childcare, friendship and work. Moreover, certain migraine partners showed a moderate burden according to Zarit scale and higher anxiety levels than the Spanish population.

Cefalea: embarazo y lactancia. Recomendaciones del Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología (GECSEN) / Headache: pregnancy and breastfeeding Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group

Introducción: La cefalea es uno de los motivos de consulta más comunes en neurología, siendo más frecuente durante la edad reproductiva. Por ello, es habitual encontrar en nuestras consultas pacientes embarazadas o en periodo de lactancia con dicha queja. Es importante conocer las opciones farmacológicas más seguras, cuáles no se deben emplear, así como cuándo sospechar cefaleas secundarias. Por este motivo, el Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología ha elaborado una guía con las recomendaciones consensuadas acerca de los algoritmos diagnósticos y terapéuticos que se deben emplear durante el embarazo y la lactancia. Desarrollo: Esta guía ha sido redactada por un grupo de jóvenes neurólogos con especial interés y experiencia en cefaleas en colaboración con la Junta Directiva del Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología. Las recomendaciones se centran en los fármacos aconsejados en las cefaleas primarias más frecuentes, tanto en su fase aguda como preventiva. En una segunda parte se aborda cuándo sospechar y qué pruebas realizar ante una posible cefalea secundaria durante el embarazo y la lactancia. Conclusiones: Esperamos que esta guía resulte de utilidad y permita su aplicación práctica en la consulta diaria. Asimismo, que sirva para actualizar y mejorar el conocimiento del manejo de las cefaleas durante estas etapas, para actuar con mayor confianza ante estas pacientes. (AU)

Introduction: Headache is one of the most common neurological complaints, and is most frequent during reproductive age. As a result, we are routinely faced with pregnant or breastfeeding women with this symptom in clinical practice. It is important to know which pharmacological choices are the safest, which should not be used, and when we should suspect secondary headache. To this end, the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Grouphas prepared a series of consensus recommendations on the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms that should be followed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Development: This guide was prepared by a group of young neurologists with special interest and experience in headache, in collaboration with the Group's Executive Committee. Recommendations focus on which drugs should be used for the most frequent primary headaches, both during the acute phase and for prevention. The second part addresses when secondary headache should be suspected and which diagnostic tests should be performed in the event of possible secondary headache during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Conclusions: We hope this guide will be practical and useful in daily clinical practice and that it will help update and improve understanding of headache management during pregnancy and breastfeeding, enabling physicians to more confidently treat these patients. (AU)

Headache: pregnancy and breastfeeding. Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group.

INTRODUCTION: Headache is one of the most common neurological complaints, and is most frequent during reproductive age. As a result, we are routinely faced with pregnant or breastfeeding women with this symptom in clinical practice. It is important to know which pharmacological choices are the safest, which should not be used, and when we should suspect secondary headache. To this end, the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group has prepared a series of consensus recommendations on the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms that should be followed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. DEVELOPMENT: This guide was prepared by a group of young neurologists with special interest and experience in headache, in collaboration with the Group's Executive Committee. Recommendations focus on which drugs should be used for the most frequent primary headaches, both during the acute phase and for prevention. The second part addresses when secondary headache should be suspected and which diagnostic tests should be performed in the event of possible secondary headache during pregnancy and breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: We hope this guide will be practical and useful in daily clinical practice and that it will help update and improve understanding of headache management during pregnancy and breastfeeding, enabling physicians to more confidently treat these patients.

The MIGREX study: Prevalence and risk factors of sexual dysfunction among migraine patients.

BACKGROUND: Migraine attacks have a high impact on daily activities. There is limited research on the burden of migraine on sexual functioning. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with migraine and its relationship with migraine features and comorbidities. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study. We included migraine patients between 18 and 60 years-old from 8 Headache Clinics in Spain. We recorded demographic data and migraine features. Patients fulfilled a survey including comorbidities, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a questionnaire about migraine impact on sexual activity. A K-nearest neighbor supervised learning algorithm was used to identify differences between migraine patients with and without sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: We included 306 patients (85.6% women, mean age 42.3±11.1 years). A 41.8% of participants had sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction was associated with being female (OR [95% CI]: 2.42 [1.17-5.00]; p<0.001), being older than 46.5 years (4.04 [2.48-6.59]; p<0.001), having chronic migraine (2.31 [1.41-3.77]; p=0.001), using preventive medication (2.45 [1.35-4.45]; p=0.004), analgesic overusing (3.51 [2.03-6.07]; p<0.001), menopause (4.18 [2.43-7.17]; p<0.001) and anxiety (2.90 [1.80-4.67]; p<0.001) and depression (6.14 [3.18-11.83]; p<0.001). However, only female gender, age, menopause and depression were the statistically significant variables selected in the model to classify migraine patients with or without sexual dysfunction (Accuracy [95% CI]: 0.75 (0.62-0.85), Kappa: 0.48, p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction is frequent in migraine patients visited in a headache clinic. However, migraine characteristics or use of preventive medication are not directly associated with sexual dysfunction. Instead, risk factors for sexual dysfunction were female gender, higher age, menopause and depression.

Persistent headache after COVID-19: Pathophysioloy, clinic and treatment.

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The acute infection is characterised not only by respiratory symptoms, but also by multiple systemic manifestations, including neurological symptoms. Among these, headache is a frequent complaint. As the pandemic progresses and the population of patients recovering from COVID-19 grows, it is becoming apparent that the headache present in the acute stage of the infection may persist for an indeterminate period, becoming a major problem for the patient and potentially leading to disability. In this review we describe the pathophysiological and clinical aspects of persistent headache after COVID-19 based on the information currently available in the literature and the authors' clinical experience.

El SARS-CoV-2 (Síndrome Respiratorio Agudo Grave ­ Coronavirus 2) es el virus responsable de la pandemia por la Enfermedad por el Coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19). La fase aguda de la enfermedad se caracteriza no sólo por síntomas respiratorios, sino que el cuadro clínico puede estar acompañado de múltiples síntomas sistémicos, incluyendo los neurológicos. Entre ellos, la cefalea es una queja frecuente. A medida que avanza la pandemia y crece la población de pacientes que se recuperan del COVID-19, se está observando que la cefalea presente en la fase aguda de la infección puede persistir durante un periodo de tiempo indeterminado, convirtiéndose un problema capital para el paciente y llegando a condicionar discapacidad. En esta revisión proporcionamos información acerca de los aspectos fisiopatológicos y clínicos de la cefalea persistente tras el COVID-19 en base a la información disponible en la literatura actual y la experiencia clínica de los autores.

Cómo y cuándo derivar un paciente con cefalea secundaria y otros tipos de dolores craneofaciales desde Urgencias y Atención Primaria: recomendaciones del Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología / How and when to refer patients diagnosed with secondary headache and other craniofacial pain in the Emergency Department and Primary Care: Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group

INTRODUCCIÓN: Cuando se sospecha que estamos ante una cefalea secundaria y se deriva un paciente a Urgencias o a la consulta de Neurología es importante saber qué exploraciones complementarias son oportunas hacer en cada caso, además de saber posteriormente cuál es el circuito adecuado que ha de seguir el paciente. Por este motivo, el Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología (GECSEN) ha decidido crear unas recomendaciones consensuadas que establezcan un protocolo de derivación de pacientes con cefalea y/o neuralgias craneofaciales. DESARROLLO: Se ha contactado con neurólogos jóvenes con interés y experiencia en cefalea y con la Junta Directiva del GECSEN han desarrollado este documento que, por razones prácticas, se ha dividido en 2 artículos. El primero centrado en las cefaleas primarias y neuralgias craneofaciales, y este centrado en las cefaleas secundarias y otros dolores craneofaciales. El enfoque es práctico, con tablas que resumen los criterios de derivación con exploraciones complementarias y otros especialistas a los que derivar, para que sea útil y facilite su uso en nuestra práctica asistencial diaria. CONCLUSIONES: Esperamos ofrecer una guía y herramientas para mejorar la toma de decisiones ante un paciente con cefalea valorando exploraciones a priorizar y que circuitos seguir para así evitarla duplicación de consultas y retrasos en el diagnóstico y en el tratamiento

INTRODUCTION: When secondary headache is suspected and the patient is referred to the emergency department or to the outpatient neurology clinic, it is important to know which are the appropriate complementary examinations to perform and the suitable referral pathway for patients to follow. In order to establish recommendations on this matter, the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group (GECSEN) has decided to issue a series of agreed recommendations constituting a referral protocol for patients with headache and/or craniofacial neuralgias. DEVELOPMENT: Young neurologists with an interest and experience in headache were invited to draft a series of practical guidelines in collaboration with GECSEN's Executive Committee. For practical reasons, the document was divided into 2 articles: the first focuses on primary headaches and craniofacial neuralgias and this second article on secondary headaches and other craniofacial pain. In order for the recommendations to be helpful for daily practice, they follow a practical approach, with tables summarising referral criteria, examinations to be performed, and referral to other specialists. CONCLUSIONS: We hope to offer a guide and tools to improve decision-making regarding patients with headache, identifying complementary tests to prioritise and referral pathways to be followed, in order to avoid duplicated consultations and delayed diagnosis and treatment

Psychosocial repercussion of migraine: is it a stigmatized disease?

INTRODUCTION: Stigma manifests both in prejudices and rejection from society towards patients who suffer from a specific pathology, and by patient's internalization of this discrimination, with the consequent repercussions on their state of mind and quality of life. The aim of the study was to quantify the stigma associated with migraine and analyze whether it is related to the clinical-demographic characteristics of the patients, as well as the possible impact on their daily lives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The stigma scale for chronic illness (SSCI) and other questionnaires were administered to 56 patients with episodic migraine (EM), 18 with chronic migraine (CM), and 21 with epilepsy, as a control group. RESULTS: The mean SSCI score was higher (51.6 ± 15.0) in the CM group than in the EM (45.0 ± 13.5) and epilepsy (47.6 ± 15.5) groups, without reaching statistical significance. In addition, the score was higher in patients who were unemployed, divorced, and in those who had migraine with aura. A statistically significant correlation was found between the SSCI score and the impact of migraine on daily life, the presence of stress, anxiety and depression, and low self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: There is a stigma around migraine in our society, which seems to be more prevalent in patients with certain socio-demographic characteristics, and that is related to stress, mood alterations, and low self-esteem. Trying to reduce stigma could contribute to improve the control of migraine and reduce the impact of the disease at a socio-economic level.

How and when to refer patients diagnosed with secondary headache and other craniofacial pain in the Emergency Department and Primary Care: Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group. / Cómo y cuándo derivar un paciente con cefalea secundaria y otros tipos de dolores craneofaciales desde Urgencias y Atención Primaria: recomendaciones del Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología.

INTRODUCTION: When secondary headache is suspected and the patient is referred to the emergency department or to the outpatient neurology clinic, it is important to know which are the appropriate complementary examinations to perform and the suitable referral pathway for patients to follow. In order to establish recommendations on this matter, the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group (GECSEN) has decided to issue a series of agreed recommendations constituting a referral protocol for patients with headache and/or craniofacial neuralgias. DEVELOPMENT: Young neurologists with an interest and experience in headache were invited to draft a series of practical guidelines in collaboration with GECSEN's Executive Committee. For practical reasons, the document was divided into 2 articles: the first focuses on primary headaches and craniofacial neuralgias and this second article on secondary headaches and other craniofacial pain. In order for the recommendations to be helpful for daily practice, they follow a practical approach, with tables summarising referral criteria, examinations to be performed, and referral to other specialists. CONCLUSIONS: We hope to offer a guide and tools to improve decision-making regarding patients with headache, identifying complementary tests to prioritise and referral pathways to be followed, in order to avoid duplicated consultations and delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Headache: pregnancy and breastfeeding Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group. / Cefalea: embarazo y lactancia. Recomendaciones del Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología (GECSEN).

INTRODUCTION: Headache is one of the most common neurological complaints, and is most frequent during reproductive age. As a result, we are routinely faced with pregnant or breastfeeding women with this symptom in clinical practice. It is important to know which pharmacological choices are the safest, which should not be used, and when we should suspect secondary headache. To this end, the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Grouphas prepared a series of consensus recommendations on the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms that should be followed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. DEVELOPMENT: This guide was prepared by a group of young neurologists with special interest and experience in headache, in collaboration with the Group's Executive Committee. Recommendations focus on which drugs should be used for the most frequent primary headaches, both during the acute phase and for prevention. The second part addresses when secondary headache should be suspected and which diagnostic tests should be performed in the event of possible secondary headache during pregnancy and breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: We hope this guide will be practical and useful in daily clinical practice and that it will help update and improve understanding of headache management during pregnancy and breastfeeding, enabling physicians to more confidently treat these patients.