Sex-related differences in cluster headache: A hospital-based study in Taiwan

Objectives To compare the clinical profiles between male and female cluster headache patients from a large cohort. Methods This hospital-based study enrolled patients diagnosed with cluster headache between 1997 to 2021. Participants completed structured questionnaires collecting information on demographics, clinical profiles, and quality of life. Treatment regimens and effectiveness were determined through medical chart review. All variables were compared between the sexes. Results In total, 798 patients (M/F:659/139) were enrolled. The male-to-female ratio was 4.7:1 for the full study period, but it declined from 5.2:1 to 4.3:1 for patients enrolled before and after 2010, respectively. The frequencies of chronic cluster headache (M:1.2%, F:1.4%) and aura (M:0.3%, F:0.7%) were low but similar between the sexes. Most headache features showed no difference between men and women. Female patients had significantly longer attack duration, shorter inter-bout duration, higher frequencies for eyelid edema, nausea and vomiting and lower frequencies for conjunctival injection and pacing. Sex difference did not influence headache-associated disability, anxiety, or depression, but poor sleep quality was significantly more common in women. Among menstruating women, 22/122 (18.0%) reported worsening headaches during menses. The effectiveness of treatment was similar between the sexes. Conclusions Despite a decline of male-to-female ratio in the past two decades, most clinical profiles were similar between the sexes.