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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Bit of good news from England!
        
(Message started by: Bob_Johnson on Feb 23^rd, 2004, 3:22pm)

Title: Bit of good news from England!
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 23^rd, 2004, 3:22pm

Catch the line about reduction in time before a good Dx of cluster was made. Hope that docs are starting to learn about us!
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Acta Neurol Scand. 2004 Mar;109(3):175-9.

Diagnostic delays and mis-management in cluster headache.

Bahra A, Goadsby PJ.

Headache Group, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.

OBJECTIVES : Cluster headache is a stereotyped form of primary headache that while common in terms of neurologic illnesses is much less common as a cause of disabling headache than migraine. MATERIALS AND METHODS : We directly interviewed 230 patients with cluster headache. National support groups contributed 76% and 24% came from the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Headache Clinic. RESULTS : Seventy-two percent were men and 28% women, giving a male to female (M:F) ratio of 2.5:1. Episodic cluster headache (ECH) was recorded in 79% while 21% had chronic cluster headache (CCH). The mean time to diagnosis has dropped from 22 years in the 1960s to 2.6 years in the 1990s, although the mean number of GPs seen before a diagnosis was made remains at three. CONCLUSIONS : While there has been improvement in the time to diagnosis for cluster headache, a number of physicians will be consulted, and better education is likely to reduce the overall patient suffering.

Title: Re: Bit of good news from England!
Post by BobG on Feb 23^rd, 2004, 4:10pm

Thanks Bob, interesting stuff.

on 02/23/04 at 15:22:51, Bob_Johnson wrote:

National support groups contributed 76% and 24% came from the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Headache Clinic.

76% from support groups...I'll bet that has 100% to do with DJ starting this website and OUCH-UK growing out of it.

Quote:

RESULTS : Seventy-two percent were men and 28% women, giving a male to female (M:F) ratio of 2.5:1.

After being at this site for quite awhile now I'd say the 2.5:1 ration is to low on the femal side. My guess is that more men have access to computers than females. And the fact that so many doctors are stuck in the dark ages and believe the old wive's tale that women don't get clusters.

Quote:

The mean time to diagnosis has dropped from 22 years in the 1960s to 2.6 years in the 1990s, although the mean number of GPs seen before a diagnosis was made remains at three.

That's a hellava drop in time and I'd be willing to bet it all has to do with DJ starting this website.

Way to go DJ! Ya done good.

Title: Re: Bit of good news from England!
Post by pubgirl on Feb 23^rd, 2004, 6:35pm

If canonisations are deserved (and DJ's is) I think he would be the first to say that others deserve the sainthood with him.
In fact Goadsby himself and his team and their support of the men and women at OUCH UK and active promotion of the condition to the medical profession were probably responsible for a proportion of this result.

Wendy

It will be interesting to see if the GP mailshot has the results we think it is having in reducing the diagnosis delay even further.

Title: Re: Bit of good news from England!
Post by MOBster on Feb 25^th, 2004, 4:35am

Hey lets give credit where it is due here folks. Check the dates guys.

This was a survey of UK data on the 90's. Most of it was long before CH.Com and OUCH of any variety.

The patient groups in question were the Migraine Action Association (formerly BMA) and to lesser extent the Migraine Trust who have both been helping CH sufferers for longer than any other organisation.

Best Wishes,

Michael (MOB)

Title: Re: Bit of good news from England!
Post by pubgirl on Feb 25^th, 2004, 4:37am

MOB :o

You're in twubble now!
You said the "M" word ;;D

W

Title: Re: Bit of good news from England!
Post by Filbert on Feb 25^th, 2004, 4:55am

Surely noone can take offense at the word most!!!