Episodic cluster headache patients have a greater chance of achieving successful abortive treatment compared to chronic cluster headache patients. Also, sumatriptan injection is more effective than oxygen in attaining complete pain relief, says a study published in Cephalalgia. This cross-sectional investigation was based on the data from the Danish Cluster Headache Survey and aimed to get insight into the existing therapy and explore the link between clinical features and therapeutic response.

The study incorporated 400 patients (age 18-65 years) that were diagnosed with cluster headache according to the  International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-2). The participants (episodic: chronic ratio of 1.7:1) completed a questionnaire that was followed by a structured interview. To identify the associations, multiple logistic regression was utilized.

People with episodic cluster headache were more likely to respond to triptans (odds ratio = 1.77) and oxygen (odds ratio = 1.64) in comparison with people with chronic cluster headache. The response to oxygen was less likely if the intensity of pain was very severe (odds ratio = 0.53). Also, the risk of a poor response elevated with disease duration (odds ratio = 0.79).

In the users of sumatriptan injection and oxygen, the percentage of patients attaining complete relief (100%) was greater with sumatriptan injection when compared to oxygen. The responder rate was observed to be limited with verapamil. The effect of verapamil had no link with the clinical features. Notably, about 57% of current users of preventive medication were found to respond at a 50% level.

More efficacious acute and preventive treatments are required for cluster headache people, concluded the study authors.