Quality of Life of Patients With Cervicogenic Headache: A Comparison With Control Subjects and Patients With Migraine or Tension‐type Headache

Abstract

To establish the health-related quality of life of patients with cervicogenic headache and to compare it with a random Dutch sample of control subjects and with patients with migraine without aura or with episodic tension-type headache. Thirty-seven patients with cervicogenic headache, 42 patients with episodic tension-type headache, and 39 patients with migraine without aura completed a Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form questionnaire. Domain scores for "physical functioning" of patients with cervicogenic headache were worse than those of patients with migraine or tension-type headache. Physical functioning scores were lower for patients with tension-type headache than for those with migraine. Migraineurs reported a diminished score for "social functioning" compared to patients with tension-type headache. All Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form domain scores were significantly lower for patients with cervicogenic headache relative to the control group. Patients with cervicogenic headache have a quality of life burden that is substantial. Although impairment in the quality of life of patients with cervicogenic headache is comparable to patients with migraine without aura and those with episodic tension-type headache, there are some specific differences.