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Headache complexity (number of symptom features) differentiates post-traumatic from non-traumatic headaches

Scher AI, McGinley JS, Wirth RJ, Lipton RB, Terrio H, Brenner LA, Cole WR, Schwab K

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache, 2021

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic headaches are a common sequela of mild traumatic brain injury (concussion). It is unclear whether or how these headaches differ phenotypically from primary headaches.

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether there is an overarching unobserved latent trait that drives the expression of observed features of post-traumatic headache and other headaches.

METHODS: Data from this post-hoc analysis come from the Warrior Strong Cohort Study conducted from 2010 through 2015. Approximately 25,000 soldiers were screened for concussion history at routine post-deployment health assessments. A random sample was invited to participate, enrolling 1567. Twelve observed headache phenotypic features were used to measure "headache complexity", the latent trait of clinical interest, using single factor confirmatory factor analysis. We compared headache complexity between groups and determined whether headache complexity predicted accessing medical care for headache.

RESULTS: Of 1094 soldiers with headaches, 198 were classified as having post-traumatic headache. These headaches were compared to those in the other soldiers (647 without concussion history and 249 with concussion history). Soldiers with post-traumatic headache had greater endorsement of all 12 headache features compared to the soldiers with non-concussive headaches. The confirmatory factor analysis showed good model fit (χ2 (51) = 95.59, p = 0.0002, RMSEA = 0.03, comparative fit index = 0.99, and Tucker-Lewis index =…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.

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