Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
09:14
Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model
Published on: June 18, 2021
2.7K
Headache after hemorrhagic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Bradley Ong1, Jad El Ahdab2, Ahmet Günkan3
1Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Headache
|December 3, 2025
Summary
Headaches are common after hemorrhagic stroke, affecting nearly half of patients and often persisting long-term. This systematic review highlights the need for better recognition and standardized definitions to improve patient care and future research.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hemorrhagic stroke, including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), accounts for approximately 20% of all strokes.
- Post-stroke headaches are frequently underrecognized and understudied, despite their potential impact on recovery and long-term morbidity.
- Current post-stroke care predominantly focuses on motor and functional recovery, often overlooking headache management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the existing evidence on the prevalence and patterns of headaches following hemorrhagic stroke.
- To quantify the overall prevalence of headaches and specific types, including acute/subacute, persistent, and severe headaches.
- To identify potential factors influencing headache occurrence and persistence after hemorrhagic stroke.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies published up to December 2024.
- Inclusion criteria required studies to enroll five or more adult patients experiencing hemorrhagic stroke.
- Meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled prevalence rates for various headache categories, with defined timeframes and severity thresholds.
Main Results:
- Twenty-four studies involving 4688 patients were analyzed, revealing an overall headache prevalence of 46.1% after hemorrhagic stroke.
- Prevalence varied by stroke type, with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) showing 58.3% and ICH showing 36.1%.
- Acute/subacute headaches affected 55.9%, persistent headaches 36.7%, and severe headaches were reported in a significant proportion of patients, indicating a tendency for chronicity.
Conclusions:
- Headache is a prevalent and often persistent complication of hemorrhagic stroke, contributing to long-term morbidity.
- There is a critical need for standardized headache definitions and longitudinal assessments to improve recognition and clinical trial design.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the nature of these headaches and develop effective treatment protocols to enhance patient care.
