Jong-Ling Fuh

Chronic daily headache in Chinese elderly: Prevalence, risk factors, and biannual follow-up

Objective: To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of chronic daily headache (CDH) in a population of elderly Chinese subjects. Methods: A community-based survey of registered residents ≥65 years old (n = 2,003) in two townships of Kinmen Island in 1993. A neurologist used a structured questionnaire and clinical interview to make the diagnosis of headache. Subjects who had headaches ≥15 days/month for ≥6 months in the previous year were considered to have CDH. CDH was further classified into chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), CDH with migrainous features (CDH/MF), and other CDH. Person-to-person biannual follow-up of the subjects with CDH was done in June 1995 and August 1997. Results: A total of 1,533 people (77%) participated in our prevalence study. Sixty subjects (3.9%) fulfilled the criteria for CDH, with a higher prevalence in women (F/M: 5.6%/1.8%, p < 0.001). Of these subjects, 42 (70%) had CTTH, 15 (25%) had CDH/MF, and 3 (5%) had other CDH. Only 23% of those with CDH had consulted physicians for their headaches in the previous year. Multivariate logistic regression revealed the significant risk factors for CDH to be analgesic overuse (OR = 79), a history of migraine (OR = 6.6), and a Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form score of ≥8 (OR = 2.6). The follow-up results in 1995 and 1997 showed that about two-thirds of the subjects still had CDH. Analgesic overuse (relative risk = 1.6) in 1993 was a significant predictor of persistent CDH at follow-up. Conclusions: A total of 3.9% of this elderly population had CDH, with CTTH being the most common subtype. Almost two-thirds of those with CDH had persistent frequent headaches at follow-up. Analgesic overuse was a significant predictor of a poor outcome.

Comorbidity of Depressive and Anxiety Disorders in Chronic Daily Headache and Its Subtypes

Objective.—To investigate the frequency of depressive and anxiety disorders in patients with chronic daily headache.

Quality of life differs among headache diagnoses : analysis of SF-36 survey in 901 headache patients

&NA; This paper presents the results of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in 901 patients consecutively visiting a headache clinic of a national medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. HRQoL was evaluated with the Medical Outcome Study‐Short Form (SF‐36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). According to the classification criteria for chronic daily headache (CDH) proposed by Silberstein et al. (Neurology 47 (1996) 871) five hundred and ninety‐three (66%) patients had CDH, of whom transformed migraine (TM) was diagnosed in 310, and chronic tension‐type headache (CTTH) in 231. One hundred and ninety‐three patients had episodic migraine. All SF‐36 scale scores significantly correlated with the HADS scores and the intensity and frequency of pain. Compared with the normative data, a pervasive multi‐dimensional decline of the SF‐36 scores was noted among the headache patients except for the physical functioning scale. The decline was most remarkable in the role limitations of physical and emotional dimensions and in the bodily pain. An increasing impairment of the SF‐36 scores was noted from migraine to CTTH to TM. After controlling for the HADS, age, gender, education, and chronic illness by multiple linear regression analyses, the patients with TM had the worst SF‐36 profile; whereas, the patients with CTTH and migraine had compatible results. This study is the first to demonstrate that the SF‐36 scores differ among headache diagnoses. Psychological distress, as well as the percentages of the types of patients, greatly influenced the SF‐36 scores in hospital‐based headache samples. Our findings also suggest that improvement in the pain profile as well as psychological well‐being can predict a generalized improvement in the SF‐36 scales in headache patients.

Magnetic resonance angiography in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes

To investigate the evolution and clinical significance of vasoconstriction on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes (RCVS).

Chronic daily headache in adolescents Prevalence, impact, and medication overuse

Objectives: To examine the prevalence, impact, and related medication use or overuse of primary chronic daily headache (CDH) among adolescents in a field sample. Methods: The authors conducted a two-phase CDH survey of all students from ages 12 to 14 years in five selected middle schools in Taiwan. Subjects with CDH in the past year were identified and interviewed by neurologists. CDH was defined as headache occurring at a frequency of 15 days/month or more, average of 2 hours/day or more, for more than 3 months, and its subtypes were classified on the basis of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition. Results: Of the 7,900 participants, 122 (1.5%) fulfilled the criteria for primary CDH in the past year. Girls had a higher prevalence (2.4%) than boys (0.8%) (p < 0.001). Of the CDH subjects, 88 (72%) could be classified into either chronic tension-type headache (65.6%) or chronic migraine (6.6%). None of them fulfilled the criteria of new daily-persistent headache or hemicrania continua. Twenty-four subjects (20%) overused medications. Eighty-two (67%) of all CDH subjects had migraine or probable migraine. In the past semester, most CDH subjects (65%) did not take any sick leave for headaches. Only 6 subjects consulted neurologists in the past year, and only 1 subject took headache prophylactic agents. Conclusions: Chronic daily headache (CDH) was common in a large nonreferred adolescent sample. Based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition, criteria, chronic tension-type headache was the most common subtype; however, a majority of adolescents with CDH had headaches with features of migraine.

Characteristics and treatment of headache after traumatic brain injury: a focused review.

Lew HL, Lin P-H, Fuh J-L, Wang S-J, Clark DJ, Walker WC: Characteristics and treatment of headache after traumatic brain injury: A focused review. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2006;85:619–627. Headache is one of the most common complaints in patients with traumatic brain injury. By definition, headache that develops within 1 wk after head trauma (or within 1 wk after regaining consciousness) is referred to as posttraumatic headache (PTH). Although most PTH resolves within 6–12 mos after injury, approximately 18–33% of PTH persists beyond 1 yr. We performed a systematic literature review on this topic and found that many patients with PTH had clinical presentations very similar to tension-type headache (37% of all PTH) and migraine (29% of all PTH). Although there is no universally accepted protocol for treating PTH, many clinicians treat PTH as if they were managing primary headache. As a result of the heterogeneity in the terminology and paucity in prospective, well-controlled studies in this field, there is a definite need for conducting double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment trials in patients with PTH.

Recurrent primary thunderclap headache and benign CNS angiopathy Spectra of the same disorder

Objectives: To investigate the clinical pictures of patients with recurrent thunderclap headaches of unknown etiology and to field-test two relevant International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (ICHD-II) criteria, i.e., primary thunderclap headache (Code 4.6) and benign (or reversible) angiopathy of the CNS (Code 6.7.3). Methods: We prospectively recruited patients presenting with idiopathic recurrent thunderclap headaches from a hospital-based headache clinic. Detailed histories, neurologic examinations, and MRIs and magnetic resonance angiographies (MRAs) were performed in all patients to exclude secondary causes. Patients with cerebral vasoconstriction received serial MRA follow-up. Results: Fifty-six consecutive patients (51 female/5 male, mean age 49.6 ± 9.8 [range 22 to 76] years) were enrolled. Segmental vasoconstriction (or benign CNS angiopathy) was found in 22 patients (39%). Thunderclap headache recurred in all patients with a median frequency of 0.7 times per day for a median period of 14 days (range 6 to 86 days). The median duration for each single attack was 3 hours. Most patients (84%) reported at least one trigger. Nimodipine effectively aborted further attacks in 83% of the treated patients. Headache attacks subsided within 3 months. Four patients (7%) developed ischemic complications. Patients with and without vasoconstriction based on MRA images were similar regarding demographics and headache profile. Except for the duration criterion, our patients generally mapped well into the proposed ICHD-II criteria. Conclusions: This study suggests that the two diagnostic entities proposed by the ICHD-II may present different spectra of the same disorder. The distinct headache profile may help physicians quickly recognize this disabling headache disorder with risk of stroke and provide timely treatment.

Swallowing difficulty in Parkinson's disease

Dysphagia is a frequent and potentially serious complication of Parkinsons disease (PD). We examined the oropharyngeal swallowing ability in 19 PD patients (15 men and 4 women, mean age 68.42 years, mean Hoehn and Yahr stage 1.8) using modified barium swallow before and after administering oral levodopa (in combination with benserazide). Twelve (63.2%) patients demonstrated objective evidence of swallowing abnormalities; although only six patients (31.6%) had subjective complaints. Vallecula sinus and pyriform sinus residues were the most frequent abnormalities (47.4% and 42.1%); followed by delayed swallowing reflex (26.3%). Three patients demonstrated silent aspiration. In the 12 patients with abnormal swallowing, six (50%) showed objective improvement after levodopa treatment, while the remaining six showed no change. Of the former group of six, one patient showed improvement in the oral phase, but deterioration in the pharyngeal phase. We concluded that PD patients had a high percentage of objective swallowing abnormalities which could be reduced in half of the patients through the administration of levodopa treatment.

Prevalence and Subtypes of Dementia in Taiwan: A community Survey of 5297 Individuals

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence rate of dementia in Taiwan, the relative frequencies of its subtypes, and its associations with age, education, gender, and residence location.

Neuropsychiatric profiles in patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

Objective: To explore the neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cortical and subcortical vascular dementia (VaD). Methods: We investigated consecutive patients with dementia. All the participants received brain computed tomography. The diagnosis of dementia was confirmed by clinical criteria and the imaging findings. Only patients with probable AD, and subcortical and cortical VaD were included. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to evaluate global cognitive function, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was used to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results: Of the 536 participants with dementia, 320 (59.7%) had AD, 161 (30%) had subcortical VaD, 35 (6.4%) had cortical VaD, and 16 (2.9%) had mixed cortical and subcortical VaD. Cortical VaD patients had the highest mean composite NPI scores in all domains and AD patients had the lowest composite scores in most domains. The mean composite scores of the apathy and sleep disturbance domains in patients with cortical VaD were significantly higher than those in the patients with AD after controlling for years of education and MMSE score (p<0.01). Conclusions: There were few differences among the patients with AD, subcortical VaD and cortical VaD. The most consistent differences were the high sleep disturbance scores in those with cortical VaD.