Smartphone use and primary headache
Pratik Uttarwar, Deepti Vibha, Kameshwar Prasad, Achal Kumar Srivastava, Awadh Kishor Pandit, Sada Nand Dwivedi
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of smartphone use with occurrence of new-onset headache and/or increased severity of headaches in patients with primary headache. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study between June 2017 and December 2018, patients with primary headache were divided into 2 groups: smartphone users (SUs) and non-smartphone users (NSUs). A questionnaire was administered for headache characteristics and treatment taken. The primary objective was to determine the association of smartphone use with new-onset headache or increase severity. The secondary objective was to determine any differences in the requirement of acute medication and prophylaxis. RESULTS: = 0.007) and poor response to medication in the high SU group. CONCLUSIONS: The use of smartphone was associated with increase in requirement of acute medication and less relief with acute medication. Longitudinal studies may be required to confirm these findings.