Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is estimated that headache attributed to ischemic stroke occurs in 7.4% to 34% of the cases. Despite its frequency, this headache has been little studied in terms of its risk factors and characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and clinical characteristics of headache attributed to ischemic stroke and the factors associated with its occurrence. METHODS: The present was a cross-sectional study which included patients consecutively admitted within 72 hours of the onset of ischemic stroke. A semi-structured questionnaire was used. The patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients were included, 68.2% of whom were male, and the mean age was of 68.2 ± 13.8 years. The frequency of headache attributed to ischemic stroke was of 24.9% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 19.6-31.1%). The headache had a median duration of 21 hours and most frequently began at the same time as the focal deficit (45.3%), with a gradual onset (83%). It was of moderate intensity, pulsatile (45.3%), bilateral (54.6%), and presented a similar pattern to that of tension-type headache (53.6%). Headache attributed to stroke was significantly associated with previous tension-type headache, and previous migraine with and without aura (logistic regression). CONCLUSION: Headache attributed to stroke is common, with a pattern similar to that of tension-type headache, and it is associated with a history of tension-type and migraine headaches.