Eur J Neurol. 2021 Jul 30. doi: 10.1111/ene.15040. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Headache is identified as a common post-COVID sequelae experienced by COVID-19 survivors. The aim of this pooled analysis is to synthesize the prevalence of post-COVID headache in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
METHODS: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, as well as medRxiv and bioRxiv preprint servers were searched up to May 31, 2021. Studies or preprints providing data on post-COVID headache were included. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects models were used for meta-analytical pooled prevalence of post-COVID headache. Data synthesis was categorized at hospital admission/symptoms' onset, and at 30days, 60days, 90days and ≥180 days after.
RESULTS: From 9,573 studies identified, 28 peer-reviewed studies and 7 preprints were included. The sample was 28,438 COVID-19 survivors (12,307 females; mean age: 46.6, SD: 17.45 years). The methodological quality was high in 45% of the studies. The overall prevalence of post-COVID headache was 47.1% (95%CI 35.8-58.6) at onset or hospital admission, 10.2% (95%CI 5.4-18.5) at 30days, 16.5% (95%CI 5.6-39.7) at 60days, 10.6% (95%CI 4.7-22.3) at 90days, and 8.4% (95%CI 4.6-14.8) at ≥180days after onset/hospital discharge. Headache as a symptom at the acute phase was more prevalent in non-hospitalized (57.97%) than in hospitalized (31.11%) patients. Time trend analysis showed a decreased prevalence from the acute symptom's onset to all post-COVID follow-up periods which was maintained after.
CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis found that the prevalence of post-COVID headache ranged from 8 to 15% during the first sixth months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
PMID:34327787 | DOI:10.1111/ene.15040