Clinical Features Of Cluster Headache: An Outpatient Clinic Analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicalcharacteristics of cluster headache (CH) in a neurology outpatient populationin China.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June toDecember2011in a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. Allconsecutive patients citing headache as their chief complaint were asked toparticipate in a face to face interview with a qualified headache specialistand to complete a detailed self-administered questionnaire. The diagnosis ofCH was made according to the International Classification of HeadacheDisorders, Second Edition (ICHD-II).Results：Of the1526headache patients screened,26were diagnosedwith CH (6women,20men). Mean age at onset was27±8years (range,1747) and50%of patients were2030years of age. Of the26CH patients,61.5%reported that pain was usually centered at the right temporal regionand69.2%characterized the pain as swelling. Attacks lasted87min onaverage and were associated with cranial autonomic symptoms (100%). Aseasonal predilection was reported by69.2%of CH patients. No patient reported significant changes in pain severity after physical activity. Tobaccouse was common (14/26patients) and alcohol was the most frequently citedtrigger.Conclusions:This study details the clinical features of CH in aneurology outpatient population in China. Compared to Western studies, ourpatients were different in several aspects including the absence of chronicCH.