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Published on: June 2, 2014
[Chronic daily headache: I. Diagnosis and pathophysiology]
1New England Center for Headache, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA. medvol98@yahoo.com
Insights
Chronic daily headache (CDH) affects 2-3% of the population, often presenting as chronic migraine. Its multifactorial pathophysiology involves genetics, neuronal dysfunction, and comorbidities like psychiatric disorders and sleep disturbances.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Headache Medicine
Context:
- Chronic daily headache (CDH) is a prevalent neurological condition, accounting for up to 5% of primary headaches and frequently leading to specialist consultations.
- Affecting 2-3% of the general population, CDH significantly impacts quality of life and healthcare resources.
Purpose:
- To review and synthesize current literature on the classification, epidemiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology of chronic daily headache (CDH).
Summary:
- CDH is primarily categorized by headache duration, with over 90% of cases involving headaches lasting longer than four hours, predominantly chronic migraine.
- The pathophysiology of CDH is complex and multifactorial, involving genetic predispositions, central and peripheral neuronal dysfunction, neuropeptide imbalances, and the significant impact of medication overuse and psychiatric comorbidities.
Impact:
- Highlights chronic migraine as the leading manifestation of CDH, emphasizing the need for targeted treatment strategies.
- Underscores the critical role of associated factors such as analgesic overuse, psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression), and sleep disturbances in the development and management of CDH.
Introduction:
Chronic daily headache (CDH), or headache more than 15 days/month or over 180 days/year, is one of the main reasons for visits to specialised headache centres and accounts for up to 5% of primary headaches.
Aims:
Our objective was to determine the classification, epidemiology, risk factors and pathophysiology of CDH by reviewing the literature.
Development:
CDH has a prevalence of 2 to 3% in the general population and is subdivided into two groups according to the headache duration. The first group (more than four hours) represents over 90% patients; includes chronic migraine (60 to 87.4%), chronic tension-type headache (0.9 to 28.8%), new daily persistent headache (0.8 to 20%) and hemicrania continua (2.2%), which represents over 90% of patients. The second group (less than four hours) is made up of cluster, chronic paroxysmal hemicranial, idiopathic stabbing-type headache and cranial neuralgias. The pathophysiology of CDH is multifactorial; it has been suggested that genetic factors, peripheral and central neuronal dysfunction derived from the alteration of protein and receptor synthesis, inadequate release of inhibitory and excitatory neuropeptides, imbalance, excitatory and inhibitory neuropeptides concentration imbalance, in association with abuse of analgesics, high comorbidity with psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression and panic) and sleep disorders may all be involved.
Conclusions:
CDH is a frequent cause of headache and chronic migraine is the main presenting symptom. Pathophysiology is multifactorial; there is a strong association with analgesic abuse, high comorbidity with psychiatric disorders and sleep disorders.
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