Incidence and predictors of headache relief after endovascular treatment in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

Objective Patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms often present with headaches. We retrospectively determined the incidence of headache relief in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms after endovascular treatment, with the main goals of preventing aneurysmal haemorrhage and identifying factors associated with headache relief in a cohort study. Methods From a cohort of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms who were treated with endovascular coiling and admitted between January 2012 and December 2014, we included 123 patients who had headaches and underwent regular follow-up. The severity of headache was assessed by a quantitative 11-point headache scale for all patients before and after the endovascular treatment. Headache relief was defined as a decrease in the headache score. We determined the incidence and predictors of headache relief using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. Results Of the 123 patients with a mean follow-up of 14.1 months (range 1–39 months), 69 had headache relief. The overall cumulative incidence of headache relief was 62.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 54.2%, 69.4%). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, the side of headache ipsilateral to the aneurysm (adjusted hazard ratio 0.540; 95% CI 0.408, 0.715; P < 0.001) and aneurysm size (adjusted hazard ratio 1.753; 95% CI 1.074, 2.863; P = 0.025) were significant predictors of headache relief. Conclusions Endovascular treatment relieved preoperative headaches for most patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The side of headache ipsilateral to the aneurysm and aneurysm size >10 mm were significant predictors of headache relief.