Abstract Background and aims Predictors of Acute Headache at Stroke Onset Are Overlooked; This Study Assesses Clinical and Radiological Factors to Improve Management. Methods This observational case–control study included 112 patients with post-stroke headache (per ICHD-3) and 127 matched controls without headache, conducted from January to August 2021 at Kasr Al-Ainy and Al-Hussein University hospitals. Building on our previous study linking post-stroke headache to cerebrovascular and hemodynamic changes via duplex ultrasound, this study focuses on identifying clinical and radiological predictors of post-stroke headache. Results The case group included 112 patients and the control group 127 matched patients. Significant differences were found for history of sleep deprivation, psychological stress, BMI 25, pre-stroke headache, previous stroke, and posterior circulation infarction with large artery disease (P0.001). Multiple lacunar infarctions and leukoaraiosis were the most frequent radiological findings in cases (P0.001). Posterior circulation infarcts, especially cerebellar (34%), and infarcts 15 mm were significantly associated with post-stroke headache (P0.001). Conclusions We can predict the development of acute headache attributed to stroke onset through several clinical and radiological factors. On the concept of post-stroke headache was developed within 7 days after stroke onset in most of the case group, our study could help further studies with a new scope to provide better prophylactic management for a post-stroke headache once we predict it. Conflict of interest Nothing to disclose
Elsayed Abed (Fri,) studied this question.