Evaluation of guideline-adherent treatment in cluster headache.
BACKGROUND
Several treatment guidelines exist for cluster headache. However, it is not yet known how many cluster headache patients are treated according to these guidelines.


METHODS
We enrolled 434 cluster headache patients with confirmed diagnosis referred to two tertiary pain centers. The history of treatment was registered and analyzed according to the treatment guidelines of the European Federation of Neurological Societies.


RESULTS
Regarding acute attack treatment, 62.1% of the episodic and 71.0% of the chronic cluster headache patients were treated according to the guidelines. The efficacy rate was above 92% in both groups. Regarding prophylactic treatment, 31.3% of the episodic and 50.9% of the chronic cluster headache patients were treated according to the guidelines. The efficacy rate was 92.8% for episodic and 70.9% for chronic cluster headache.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of guideline-adherent treatment in cluster headache is about 70% for acute treatment and about 35% for prophylactic treatment. The efficacy of this treatment is significantly higher than the efficacy of non-guideline-adherent treatment.
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany.
Victoria
V
Lademann
Berlin Pain Centre, Germany.
Jan-Peter
JP
Jansen
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany Berlin Pain Centre, Germany everss@uni-muenster.de.
Stefan
S
Evers
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany Academy for Manual Medicine, Germany.
Achim
A
Frese
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009462:Neurology / Q000592:standards; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics
Cluster headache; acute treatment; guideline; prophylactic treatment