Hemodialysis headache: An Italian study

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of hemodialysis headache in a population of Calabrian subjects, in Italy. Methods. We observed a sample of hemodialysis subjects, studied at the University Hospital of Catanzaro and the Hospital of Melito PS, Reggio Calabria. The patients were investigated for the search for hemodialysis headache. The inclusion criteria of the subjects in the study were respected, such as the characteristics of the headache and the close relationship with dialysis. Results. The results showed a percentage of hemodialysis headache around 5% of cases. The percentage we found was very low compared with some literature data revealing percentages up to 70% of cases. Conclusions. This discrepancy of data is unclear, the results we obtained are in line with few cases of literature. However, our results pose important reflections on the actual prevalence of hemodialysis headache.

Keywords

• headache
• hemodialysis headache
• homoeostasis disorders