Smoking History and Clinical Features of Cluster Headache: Results from the Korean Cluster Headache Registry
Authors
Pil Wook Chung ; Byung Su Kim ; Jeong Wook Park ; Jong Hee Sohn ; Mi Ji Lee ; Byung Kun Kim ; Min Kyung Chu ; Jin Young Ahn ; Yun Ju Choi ; Tae Jin Song ; Dae Woong Bae ; Daeyoung Kim ; Jae Moon Kim ; Soo Kyoung Kim ; Kwang Yeol Park ; Jae Myun Chung ; Heui Soo Moon ; Kyungmi Oh ; Chin Sang Chung ; Soo Jin Cho
Citation
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY, Vol.17(2) : 229-235, 2021-04
Background and purpose: Epidemiologic data suggest that cluster headache (CH) is significantly associated with cigarette smoking. The aim of this study was to determine differences in features between patients with a smoking history and those who are never-smokers, using data from a prospective multicenter registry.
Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from the Korean Cluster Headache Registry that collected data from consecutive patients diagnosed with CH. We compared clinical and demographic features between ever-smokers (current or former smokers) and never-smokers.
Results: This study enrolled 250 patients who were diagnosed with CH, of which 152 (60.8%) were ever-smokers and 98 (39.2%) were never-smokers. The age at CH onset was significantly lower in the never-smoker group than in the ever-smoker group [27.1±12.9 years vs. 30.6±10.9 years (mean±standard deviation), p=0.024]. Seasonal rhythmicity (58.1% vs. 44.7%, p=0.038) and triptan responsiveness (100% vs. 85.1%, p=0.001) were higher in never-smokers, while other clinical features such as pain severity, duration, attack frequency, and associated autonomic symptoms did not differ significantly between the groups. The male-to-female ratio was markedly higher in ever-smokers (29.4:1) than in never-smokers (1.7:1).
Conclusions: Most of the clinical features did not differ significantly between patients with a smoking history and never-smokers. However, the age at CH onset, sex ratio, and seasonal rhythmicity were significantly associated with smoking history.