Headache and Pain Research

Original Article

Cluster Headache Characteristics and the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Insights from Polysomnography Analysis: Yooha Hong, Mi-Kyoung Kang, Min Kyung Chu, Soo-Jin Cho, Hee-Jin Im; Headache Pain Res. 2024;25(1):63-71. Published online April 16, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.62087/hpr.2024.0001

879 View
23 Download

Abstract PDF: Purpose: Cluster headache (CH) is characterized by circadian rhythmicity of the attacks, and it is known to respond exceptionally well to oxygen therapy. Furthermore, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently co-occurs with CH, and both conditions may be parallel outcomes of hypothalamic dysfunction rather than being causally related. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between CH characteristics and polysomnographic factors stratified by the severity of OSA in patients diagnosed with CH and OSA.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the data of OSA patients with CH who were enrolled in the Korean Cluster Headache Registry and underwent polysomnography due to clinical suspicion of OSA. Basic demographic data, headache-related parameters, and polysomnographic parameters were analyzed according to the severity of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index: <15 or ≥15 per hour).
Results
Twelve CH patients with OSA were evaluated. The onset age of CH was higher (38.5 years vs. 19.0 years, p=0.010), and the maximal duration of cluster bouts was longer (156.5 days vs. 47.0 days, p=0.037) in the moderate-to-severe OSA group than in the mild OSA group. Unlike other polysomnographic parameters, the apnea-hypopnea index and respiratory arousal index during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep were comparable across different OSA severity levels.
Conclusion
The onset age and duration of cluster bouts were associated with the severity of OSA in CH patients. Additionally, the relatively high susceptibility to hypoxia during REM sleep in patients with mild OSA implies that interventions may be potentially advantageous, even in CH patients with mild OSA.

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search