PO-08 | Long-term outcome in pediatric patients with headache

S. Genta,^1,2 M. Celario^1,2, C. Brancaccio¹ ², G. Rossetto,^1,2 C. Dusi,^1,2 P. Baso,^1,2 V. De Giorgis^1,2 | ¹Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS Mondino, Pavia; ²University of Pavia, Italy

Background: The prevalence of headaches in children and adolescents has increased in recent years. Diagnosing headaches in children can be challenging, as the symptoms may not always align with the diagnostic criteria used for adults. Treatment options for children are limited and the high placebo response rate complicates the determination of the true efficacy of most drugs. Although headaches in childhood are common, there are few data available on their long-term prognosis, based on the available data it seems that in the majority of cases headache tends to persist in adulthood. This retrospective and prospective longitudinal monocentric study aims to investigate the long-term outcomes of pediatric patients with headache disorders. It also explores whether early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention is associated with improved long-term prognosis, including symptom control, quality of life, and reduced progression to chronic forms.

Methods: This is a longitudinal observational study. We retrospectively included 560 patients, aged between 4 and 17 years old, diagnosed with headache disorders who accessed our Centre between 2019 and 2024. Data collected from these visits included medical history, family history, headache characteristics, and treatment history. Clinical data were gathered at three time points:

• T0: Initial visit at our Centre
• T1: Follow-up visit, between 6 and 18 months after the initial assessment
• T2: Final follow-up, prospectively via a phone interview.

Results: This is an ongoing study and data are currently being analyzed. The study allows for tracking changes in the pediatric migraine pattern and in the response to therapy over time. It also aims to evaluate how early intervention and different treatment strategies can influence clinical outcomes, symptoms persistence and overall quality of life.

Conclusion: Through this study, we aim to identify the most common characteristics of headaches in children attending our hospital and to monitor changes in migraine patterns and treatment strategies over time. This study may serve as both an epidemiological model of pediatric migraine and a tool to identify prognostic factors, ultimately supporting the development of more personalized treatment approaches and guiding clinicians toward tailored care for young migraine patients.