RT Journal Article
T1 Headache as an acute and post‐COVID‐19 symptom in COVID‐19 survivors: A meta‐analysis of the current literature
A1 Fernández de las Peñas, César
A1 Navarro Santana, Marcos José
A1 Gómez Mayordomo, Víctor
A1 Cuadrado Pérez, María De La Luz
A1 García Azorín, David
A1 Arendt Nielsen, Lars
A1 Plaza Manzano, Gustavo
AB Headache is identified as a common post-COVID sequela experienced by COVID-19 survivors. The aim of this pooled analysis was to synthesize the prevalence of post-COVID headache in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection.MethodsMEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, as well as medRxiv and bioRxiv preprint servers, were searched up to 31 May 2021. Studies or preprints providing data on post-COVID headache were included. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random effects models were used for meta-analytical pooled prevalence of post-COVID headache. Data synthesis was categorized at hospital admission/symptoms' onset, and at 30, 60, 90, and ≥180 days afterwards.ResultsFrom 9573 studies identified, 28 peer-reviewed studies and 7 preprints were included. The sample was 28,438 COVID-19 survivors (12,307 females; mean age: 46.6, SD: 17.45 years). The methodological quality was high in 45% of the studies. The overall prevalence of post-COVID headache was 47.1% (95% CI 35.8–58.6) at onset or hospital admission, 10.2% (95% CI 5.4–18.5) at 30 days, 16.5% (95% CI 5.6–39.7) at 60 days, 10.6% (95% CI 4.7–22.3) at 90 days, and 8.4% (95% CI 4.6–14.8) at ≥180 days after onset/hospital discharge. Headache as a symptom at the acute phase was more prevalent in non-hospitalized (57.97%) than in hospitalized (31.11%) patients. Time trend analysis showed a decreased prevalence from the acute symptoms’ onset to all post-COVID follow-up periods which was maintained afterwards.ConclusionThis meta-analysis found that the prevalence of post-COVID headache ranged from 8% to 15% during the first 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
PB Wiley
SN 1351-5101
SN 1468-1331
YR 2021
FD 2021-07-30
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/104822
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/104822
LA eng
NO Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas, C., Navarro‐Santana, M., Gómez‐Mayordomo, V., Cuadrado, M. L., García‐Azorín, D., Arendt‐Nielsen, L., & Plaza‐Manzano, G. (2021). Headache as an acute and post‐COVID‐19 symptom in COVID‐19 survivors: A meta‐analysis of the current literature. European journal of neurology, 28(11), 3820-3825.
NO Novo Nordisk Foundation (0067235)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 27 feb 2026