Estudio descriptivo de validez y aplicabilidad de la regla nemotécnica POUNDing en pacientes con migraña / Validity and applicability of the mnemonic POUNDing rule in patients with migraine. A descriptive study

INTRODUCCIÓN: En la valoración inicial de un paciente con cefalea, el médico se plantea con frecuencia si el dolor se corresponde con una migraña y si el paciente precisa pruebas de neuroimagen. El objetivo del trabajo fue valorar la validez y aplicabilidad de la regla nemotécnica POUNDing en pacientes diagnosticados de migraña. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, de aplicación de la regla POUNDing en pacientes con diagnóstico de migraña y con realización de alguna prueba de imagen cerebral (tomografía computarizada o resonancia magnética), en un centro de salud urbano y en una consulta de Neurología del Hospital Universitario de Badajoz. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó a 116 pacientes (edad media 45,6 años; 79,3% mujeres; 70 procedentes de consultas de Neurología y 46 del centro de salud). Destacaron en las comparaciones los elevados valores predictivos positivos: 90,9% (IC 95%: 57,1-99,5%); 100% (IC 95%: 73,2-99,3%) y 96,0% (IC 95%: 77,7-99,8%), en los pacientes de la consulta de Neurología, del centro de salud y en la población total, respectivamente, y sus bajos valores predictivos negativos: 6,8% (IC 95%: 2,2-17,3%); 3,1% (IC 95%: 0,2-18,0%) y 5,5% (IC 95%: 2,0-12,9%), también respectivamente en los pacientes de la consulta de Neurología, del centro de salud y en la población total. CONCLUSIONES: La regla POUNDing presenta un alto valor predictivo positivo y podría ser de gran ayuda en la aceptación o rechazo de un diagnóstico de migraña, al facilitar un uso más eficiente de las pruebas de neuroimagen

INTRODUCTION: In assessing the patient with headache, clinicians are often faced with 2 important questions: Is this headache a migraine? Does this patient require neuroimaging? The aim of this study was to assess the validity and applicability of the mnemonic POUNDing rule in patients diagnosed with migraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, validation study of the POUNDing rule in patients with a diagnosis of migraines and with a brain imaging test (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), in an urban health centre and a neurology clinic of the University Hospital of Badajoz. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were included (mean age 45.6 years; 79.3% women, 70 from the neurology clinics, and 46 from the health centre). The best validity parameters of the POUNDing rule were its positive predictive values: 90.9% (95% CI: 57.1-99.5%), 100% (95% CI: 73.2-99.3%), and 96.0% (95% CI: 77.7-99.8%) in the patients of the neurology clinic, the health centre and in the total population, respectively, and its low negative predictive values: 6.8% (95% CI: 2.2-17.3%), 3.1% (95% CI: 0.2-18.0%), and 5.5% (95% CI: 2.0-12.9%), also respectively in the patients of the neurology clinic, the health centre and in the total population. CONCLUSIONS: The POUNDing mnemonic rule has a high positive predictive values and can be a great help in accepting or rejecting a diagnosis of migraine, facilitating a more efficient use of neuroimaging tests

[Validity and applicability of the mnemonic POUNDing rule in patients with migraine. A descriptive study]. / Estudio descriptivo de validez y aplicabilidad de la regla nemotécnica POUNDing en pacientes con migraña.

INTRODUCTION: In assessing the patient with headache, clinicians are often faced with 2 important questions: Is this headache a migraine? Does this patient require neuroimaging? The aim of this study was to assess the validity and applicability of the mnemonic POUNDing rule in patients diagnosed with migraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, validation study of the POUNDing rule in patients with a diagnosis of migraines and with a brain imaging test (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), in an urban health centre and a neurology clinic of the University Hospital of Badajoz. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were included (mean age 45.6 years; 79.3% women, 70 from the neurology clinics, and 46 from the health centre). The best validity parameters of the POUNDing rule were its positive predictive values: 90.9% (95% CI: 57.1-99.5%), 100% (95% CI: 73.2-99.3%), and 96.0% (95% CI: 77.7-99.8%) in the patients of the neurology clinic, the health centre and in the total population, respectively, and its low negative predictive values: 6.8% (95% CI: 2.2-17.3%), 3.1% (95% CI: 0.2-18.0%), and 5.5% (95% CI: 2.0-12.9%), also respectively in the patients of the neurology clinic, the health centre and in the total population. CONCLUSIONS: The POUNDing mnemonic rule has a high positive predictive values and can be a great help in accepting or rejecting a diagnosis of migraine, facilitating a more efficient use of neuroimaging tests.