Abstract Details

Title Headache Frequency and Quality of Life in Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19

Topic Headache

Presentation(s) P9 - Poster Session 9 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 15-003

Background People with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) have reported many neurological symptoms such as brain fog, memory difficulties, and headache.

Objective We sought to describe PASC-related headache severity and quality of life in a cohort of non-hospitalized individuals presenting to our outpatient neurology practices (PASC)

Design/Methods Participants with evidence of prior COVID-19 infection were asked to complete symptom scales, Neuro-QOL (anxiety, depression, and fatigue), and validated headache questionnaires: Headache Impact Test-6 and American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention questionnaire.

Results Among 98 participants reporting PASC symptoms after acute illness, mean age was 50.5±15.1 and 65% were female. Headache (49%) was the second most frequent neurologic symptom reported after fatigue (67%). 18% (18/98) had a prior history of migraine headaches. 38.9% (7/18) of participants with pre-morbid migraine reported more than 15 symptomatic headache days per month. When controlling for age and sex, there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.011) between in participants with a prior migraine history indicating more frequent headaches in the last 3 months (mean 39.0±28.5 headaches) compared to participants without prior migraine (mean 18.5±25.3 headaches). HIT-6 scores were also significantly greater (p=0.005) in participants with a migraine history after adjusting for age and sex, (58.6±13.2) versus 47±12.2) indicating worse quality of life related to headaches. In participants with HIT-6 scrores>=56 indicating substantial or severe impact on quality of life and AMPP scores meeting criteria for chronic migraine, NeuroQOL scores for depression, anxiety, and fatigue were also elevated/worse.

Conclusions People with PASC in a neurology outpatient practice, with a prior migraine history report elevated headache frequency, worse quality of life related to their headaches as indicated by the HIT-6 test and Neuro-QOL . These data support the inclusion of headache specific measures in studies of PASC in larger samples and suggests that COVID-19 infection can impact headaches.

Authors/Disclosures
Sujata P. Thawani, MD (NYU Neurology Associates) PRESENTER	Dr. Thawani has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Lisena Hasanaj (NYU Langone Medical Center)	Ms. Hasanaj has nothing to disclose.
Jennifer A. Frontera, MD (NYU Langone Health)	Dr. Frontera has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for FirstKindMedical. Dr. Frontera has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Physician Education Resource. The institution of Dr. Frontera has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Frontera has received research support from Alexion. Dr. Frontera has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.
Steven Galetta, MD, FAAN (NYU Langone Medical Center)	Dr. Galetta has nothing to disclose.
Laura J. Balcer, MD, MSCE, FAAN (NYU Grossman School of Medicine)	An immediate family member of Dr. Balcer has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Balcer has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society.