Headache Characteristics in a Sample of Pregnant Iranian Women with Primary Headache

Abstract

Headache is a common symptom during pregnancy that requires special attention due to the associated potential risks of life-threatening conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate headache characteristics in pregnant women. This study included pregnant women who presented to the antenatal outpatient clinic with a chief complaint of headache between February 2022 and July 2023. Eligible participants were recruited. Patients with high-risk pregnancies, fetal complications, postpartum headaches, smoking or opiate use, age less than 18 years, or pathological headaches were excluded from the study. The instruments used included a demographic form that collected information on headache history, the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria, and a visual analog scale. A total of 400 pregnant women with headache were selected. The mean age was 27.3 ± 5.06 years, mean gestational age was 32.2 ± 6.05 weeks, and parity was 2 ± 0.70. Multivariate analysis showed that age and gestational age were significantly associated with an increased incidence of migraine without aura and that a history of headache was significantly associated with the occurrence of tension headache. In addition, headache before pregnancy had a significant impact on headache intensity during pregnancy. We observed a significant interaction effect between time and headache type and a significant effect on headache intensity between headache types over time. These findings contribute to a better understanding of headache in pregnancy and emphasize the importance of tailored treatment strategies for pregnant women suffering from these symptoms, especially in emergency situations.