Table 1 Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics of the study sample
From: Treatment of withdrawal headache in patients with medication overuse headache: a pilot study
Total | Withdrawal therapy groups | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A: Methylprednisolone | B:Paracetamol | C:Placebo | p value | |||
Sample | N (%) | 57 | 19 (33.3) | 19 (33.3) | 19 (33.3) | |
Age (years) | mean ± SD | 47.3 ± 10.3 | 45.7 ± 9.5 | 49.8 ± 10.4 | 46.5 ± 11.2 | 0.4402 |
Sex | ||||||
Males | N (%) | 7 (12.3) | 2 (10.5) | 2 (10.5) | 3 (15.8) | 0.850 |
Females | N (%) | 50 (87.7) | 17 (89.5) | 17 (89.5) | 16 (84.2) | |
Marital Status | ||||||
Single | N (%) | 7 (12.3) | 3 (15.8) | 3 (15.8) | 1 (5.3) | 0.842 |
Married | N (%) | 43 (75.4) | 15 (78.9) | 13 (68.4) | 15 (78.9) | |
Separated/Divorced | N (%) | 5 (8.8) | 1 (5.3) | 2 (10.5) | 2 (10.5) | |
Widower | N (%) | 2 (3.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (5.3) | 1 (5.3) | |
Years of Education | mean ± SD | 12.5 ± 4.2 | 12.1 ± 3.5 | 12.7 ± 5.4 | 12.8 ± 3.6 | 0.8575 |
Employment | ||||||
Unemployed | N (%) | 1 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (5.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0.859 |
Student | N (%) | 3 (5.3) | 1 (5.3) | 1 (5.3) | 1 (5.3) | |
Employee | N (%) | 34 (59.7) | 13 (68.4) | 9 (47.4) | 12 (63.2) | |
Housewife | N (%) | 11 (19.3) | 4 (21.0) | 4 (21.0) | 3 (15.8) | |
Retired | N (%) | 4 (7.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (10.5) | 2 (10.5) | |
Self-employed | N (%) | 4 (7.0) | 1 (5.3) | 2 (10.5) | 1 (5.3) | |
Age at Migraine Onset (years) | mean ± SD | 15.0 ± 7.1 | 13.8 ± 4.5 | 15.7 ± 8.5 | 15.3 ± 7.8 | 0.7029 |
Age of Migraine chronification | mean ± SD | 36.0 ± 9.5 | 34.3 ± 8.7 | 39.8 ± 10.2 | 33.8 ± 8.9 | 0.0953 |
Duration of MOH (years) | med; IQR | 10; 3–14 | 11; 3–15 | 8; 3–12 | 10; 3–14 | 0.8198 |
Headache frequency (days/month) | med; IQR | 28.5; 21–30 | 29; 21–30 | 24.5; 20–30 | 30; 21–30 | 0.4243 |
Headache duration (hours/day) | mean ± SD | 8.6 ± 5.8 | 7.0 ± 5.2 | 6.8 ± 4.3 | 12.1 ± 6.3 | 0.0230 |
Headache intensity (1–3 scale) | mean ± SD | 1.6 ± 0.5 | 1.7 ± 0.5 | 1.7 ± 0.5 | 1.5 ± 0.4 | 0.3555 |
Frequency of medication | mean ± SD | 23.4 ± 6.7 | 23.4 ± 7.2 | 23.4 ± 5.8 | 23.2 ± 7.2 | 0.9941 |
intake (days/month) | ||||||
Overused Drugs | ||||||
Triptans | N (%) | 39 (68.4) | 13 (68.4) | 13 (68.4) | 13 (68.4) | 1 |
Simple analgesics and/or NSAIDs | N (%) | 18 (31.6) | 4 (21.0) | 8 (42.1) | 6 (31.6) | 0.377 |
Ergots | N (%) | 3 (5.3) | 2 (10.5) | 1 (5.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0.348 |
Combination analgesics | N (%) | 17 (29.8) | 7 (36.8) | 6 (31.6) | 4 (21.0) | 0.556 |
Previous detoxification | ||||||
No | N (%) | 32 (56.1) | 10 (52.6) | 12 (63.2) | 10 (52.6) | 0.180 |
Yes, outpatient program | N (%) | 3 (5.3) | 1 (5.3) | 1 (5.3) | 1 (5.3) | |
Yes, inpatient program | N (%) | 19 (33.3) | 8 (42.1) | 3 (15.8) | 8 (42.1) | |
Yes, inpatient and outpatient programs | N (%) | 3 (5.3) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (15.8) | 0 (0.0) | |
Migraine disability assessment score | med; IQR | 80; 35–130 | 59.5; 21.5–156.5 | 83.5; 36.5–170 | 69; 41–91 | 0.7270 |
Epworth Sleepiness Scale | mean ± SD | 6.3 ± 3.5 | 7.2 ± 3.6 | 5.6 ± 4.1 | 6.2 ± 2.8 | 0.4303 |
Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale | med; IQR | 35; 33–39 | 35; 32.5–42.5 | 33.5; 32–35 | 37; 34–38 | 0.2035 |
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale | mean ± SD | 44.6 ± 8.9 | 46.7 ± 10.1 | 42.9 ± 7.5 | 43.8 ± 8.9 | 0.4082 |