Abstract
ObjectiveThe present Italian multicenter study aimed at investigating whether the course of primary headache disorders in children and adolescents was changed during the lockdown necessary to contain the COVID-19 emergency in Italy.MethodsDuring the lockdown, we submitted an online questionnaire to patients already diagnosed with primary headache disorders. Questions explored the course of headache, daily habits, psychological factors related to COVID-19, general mood and school stress. Answers were transformed into data for statistical analysis. Through a bivariate analysis, the main variables affecting the subjective trend of headache, and intensity and frequency of the attacks were selected. The significant variables were then used for the multivariate analysis.ResultsWe collected the answers of 707 patients. In the multivariate analysis, we found that reduction of school effort and anxiety was the main factor explaining the improvement in the subjective trend of headache and the intensity and frequency of the attacks (p < 0.001). The greater the severity of headache, the larger was the clinical improvement (p < 0.001). Disease duration was negatively associated with the improvement (p < 0.001). It is noteworthy that clinical improvement was independent of prophylaxis (p > 0.05), presence of chronic headache disorders (p > 0.05) and geographical area (p > 0.05).ConclusionsOur study showed that lifestyle modification represents the main factor impacting the course of primary headache disorders in children and adolescents. In particular, reduction in school-related stress during the lockdown was the main factor explaining the general headache improvement in our population.
Highlights
On 30 January, the Italian National Institute of Health confirmed the first two cases of COVID-19 infection in Italy
Our study showed that lifestyle modification represents the main factor impacting the course of primary headache disorders in children and adolescents
The lockdown state allowed us to study how lifestyle changes could affect the course of headache in a large population of children and adolescents scattered across our country
Summary
On 30 January, the Italian National Institute of Health confirmed the first two cases of COVID-19 infection in Italy. The infection spread to our country, especially in the North, but it involved other regions. For this reason, on 4 March the government ordered the closure of schools and universities throughout Italy, while on 8 March Lombardy and other provinces of northern Italy became isolated “red zones”. On 10 March, the Italian Prime Minister announced that the restriction measures were to be extended to the whole country. According to the new rules, summed up in the hashtag #istayathome (#iorestoacasa in Italian), people could go out of their home only for proven necessity (the so-called ‘lockdown’). Lockdown measures had significant economic, health and lifestyle implications. As for children and adolescents, an important change was the interruption of school activities with the start of online lessons
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
