Headache Profile of Patients Attending Otorhinolaryngology Clinics: Navigating Diagnostic Challenges

Rai, Thripthi; Pai, Keshava K.; Khadilkar, Meera Niranjan; Shenoy, Vijendra

doi:10.1055/s-0046-1818584

Sumário Anterior Atual Seguinte

Sumário

Original Research • Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 30 (1) • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0046-1818584 linkcopy

Headache Profile of Patients Attending Otorhinolaryngology Clinics: Navigating Diagnostic Challenges

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Introduction Headache is a common complaint among otolaryngology patients, often presenting with an apparent diagnosis of secondary headache due to sinusitis. However, associated symptoms may also be linked to primary headache disorders such as migraines. The overlapping symptomatology of various headache causes poses a diagnostic challenge. The present study aims to evaluate the headache profiles of patients visiting the otolaryngology department.

Objective The present study aims to evaluate the headache profiles of patients visiting the otolaryngology department.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 128 otolaryngology patients presenting with headaches. The headaches were categorized according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition (ICHD-3), based on detailed history, examination, nasal endoscopy, and imaging studies.

Results Primary headaches were diagnosed in 45.31% of the cases, while 54.69% presented secondary headaches. Sinusitis was the most common diagnosis, found in 40.63% of the patients. Various causes of primary and secondary headaches were correlated and were found to be statistically significant ( p < 0.001 each). Statistical significance was observed when correlating primary headache with laterality ( p < 0.001). The correlation of secondary headache with laterality and age range also showed statistical significance ( p < 0.001 and 0.035 respectively).

Conclusion Sinonasal symptoms may accompany headaches, with or without a direct causal link. The accurate diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders requires a thorough understanding of the latest guidelines and a multidisciplinary approach. This comprehensive strategy is essential to provide high-quality healthcare and significantly improve the quality of life of individuals suffering from this common and often debilitating condition.

Keywords
headache; headache disorders; health; migraine disorders; otolaryngology; sinusitis

	N (%)	Chi-squared goodness of fit test	Degrees of freedom	p
Primary headache
Migraine	40 (68.97%)	38.2	2	< 0.001 *
Tension	16 (27.59%)
Cluster	2 (3.45%)
Secondary headache
Sinusitis	8 (11.43%)	130	4	< 0.001 *
Refractive	52 (74.29%)
Somatoform	4 (5.71%)
Hypertension	4 (5.71%)
Sinusitis	2 (2.86%)

	Primary headache				Chi-squared goodness of fit test			Kruskal-Wallis test
	Migraine	Tension headache	Cluster headache	Total	Chi-squared	Degrees of freedom	p	Chi-squared	Degrees of freedom	p	Eta-squared
Age group (in years)
18–25	12	2	0	14	4.5	6	0.61	2.7	3	0.43	0.048
26–35	16	8	2	26
36–45	8	4	0	12
46–55	4	2	0	6
Total	40	16	2	58
Gender
Male	6	6	0	12	4.1	2	0.13	0.89	1	0.34	0.016
Female	34	10	2	46
Laterality
Unilateral	8	0	2	10	13	2	0.001 *	0.17	1	0.68	0.003
Bilateral	32	16	0	48
Duration of headache
≤ 3 months	8	6	0	14	2.6	2	0.28	0.89	1	0.34	0.016
> 3 months	32	10	2	44

	Secondary headache						Chi-squared goodness of fit test			Kruskal-Wallis test
	Non-sinus Rhinogenic	Sinusitis	Refractive error	Somatoform	Hypertension	Total	Chi-squared	Degrees of freedom	p	Chi-squared	Degrees of freedom	p	Eta-squared
Age range
18–25	0	14	0	0	0	14	42.1	16	< 0.001 *	3.6	4	0.463	0.0522
26–35	2	8	2	0	0	12
36–45	4	6	2	4	0	16
46–55	2	16	0	0	0	18
56–65	0	8	0	0	2	10
Gender
Male	4	24	0	2	0	30	4.98	4	0.289	1.77	1	0.183	0.0257
Female	4	28	4	2	2	40
Laterality
Unilateral	4	6	0	0	0	10	10.3	4	0.035 *	8.09	1	0.004	0.117
Bilateral	4	46	4	4	2	60
Duration of headache
≤ 3 months	6	20	2	2	0	30	5.45	4	0.244	1.94	1	0.164	0.0281
> 3 months	2	32	2	2	2	40

location_on

Fundação Otorrinolaringologia Rua Artur de Azevedo 46, Zip code 05404-000,, São Paulo/SP, Brazil, Phone: +55 11 3062 4097, E-mail: iaorl@iaorl.org - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: iaorl@iaorl.org

rss_feed Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Note:

[TFN1] ^*
Statistically significant.