Headache after ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Stroke Medicine
• Headache Disorders

Background:

• Headache following ischemic stroke is not well understood.
• New-onset poststroke headache characteristics and prevalence require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize data on the prevalence and characteristics of new-onset headaches in ischemic stroke patients.
• To identify factors associated with poststroke headache.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search of Medline and PubMed databases.
• Inclusion of 50 articles from 1,812 identified studies.
• Meta-analysis and meta-regression of 20 selected studies.

Main Results:

• Pooled prevalence of poststroke headache was 0.14 (95% CI 0.07-0.23), with significant heterogeneity.
• Headaches were typically tension-type, moderate-to-severe, and chronic.
• Prevalence varied by study location, national human development index (HDI), and study quality.
• Posterior circulation stroke and female sex were associated with higher odds of headache.

Conclusions:

• Headache is a frequent occurrence following ischemic stroke, potentially increasing morbidity.
• Further research is necessary to develop effective treatment guidelines and patient management strategies for poststroke headache.