Abstract
Migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are the two most prevalent primary headache disorders (PHDs) that may involve visual and vestibular impairments, neck pain, and postural unsteadiness. The perception of visual verticality (VV) has been studied in patients diagnosed with PHD to assess balance disorders showing varying findings. Our study aimed to assess the VV perception in patients diagnosed with PHD in comparison to healthy controls. A systematic review with meta-analysis was carried out in PubMed MEDLINE, Scopus, WOS, CINAHL, and SciELO. The Cohen standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to estimate the differences between exposed and healthy controls. Seven studies with 816 participants were included. The quality of included studies, according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), was moderate (mean score of 5.2). Patients diagnosed with PHD showed a moderate misperception of VV as assessed with the subjective visual vertical (SVV) test (SMD = 0.530; 95% CI = 0.225, 0.836; p < 0.001). Specifically, a misperception of the SVV was found in patients with migraine (SMD = 0.369; 95% CI = 0.1, 0.638; p = 0.007) and with TTH (SMD = 1.122; 95% CI = 0.540, 1.704; p < 0.001). This review shows a misperception of VV in patients with migraine and TTH when assessed with the SVV test, being higher in patients with TTH, although the THH sample size was low.
Highlights
Primary headache disorders (PHDs) are a significant worldwide public health problem [1]. not a direct cause of mortality, headaches are responsible for a greater number of years lived with disability than the rest of neurologic diseases combined [2]
816 patients with PHD in which perception of Visual verticality (VV) was assessed with the subjective visual vertical (SVV) test in the sitting position
The mean deviation of the SVV from the true vertical was moderate in exposed subjects compared to the group of healthy controls (SMD = 0.530; 95% CI = 0.225, moderate in exposed subjects compared to the group of healthy controls (SMD = 0.530; 95% CI = 0.225, 0.836; p < 0.001) (Figure 3, Table 5, Supplementary Figure S1)
Summary
Not a direct cause of mortality, headaches are responsible for a greater number of years lived with disability than the rest of neurologic diseases combined [2]. Within these disorders, migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are the most prevalent, and are the third and sixth disorders with the highest prevalence at a global level [1]. Migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are the most prevalent, and are the third and sixth disorders with the highest prevalence at a global level [1] Their joint global prevalence is estimated at 40.5% [1], mainly affecting women, students, and residents of large cities [3]. Comorbidity between neck pain and headache disorders has been widely
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
