Question from medical history |
Age, mean (SD); yr | 43.3 (16.4) | 55.1 (13.5) | < 0.001 |
Female sex | 652 (60.0) | 37 (55.2) | 0.4 |
Time from onset to peak; median (IQR); s | 60 (3–600) n = 1067 | 30 (3–120) n = 66 | 0.03 |
Pain severity at peak, median (IQR); scale (0–10) | 9 (8–10) n = 1009 | 10 (10–10) n = 62 | < 0.001 |
Onset during exertion | 164 (15.2) n = 1076 | 13 (20.0) n = 65 | 0.3 |
Onset during sexual activity | 109 (10.0) n = 1080 | 5 (7.5) | 0.5 |
Thunderclap headache (i.e., peaking instantly) | 665 (61.8) n = 1076 | 56 (83.6) | < 0.001 |
“Worst headache of life” | 848 (80.1) n = 1059 | 60 (93.8) n = 64 | 0.03 |
Wakened from sleep by headache | 180 (16.7) n = 1081 | 6 (9.4) n = 64 | 0.1 |
Lost consciousness | 31 (2.9) n = 1081 | 6 (9.0) | 0.01 |
Loss of consciousness was witnessed | 19 (1.7) | 4 (6.0) | 0.02 |
Neck stiffness or pain | 356 (33.0) n = 1080 | 50 (74.6) | < 0.001 |
Vomiting | 254 (23.5) n = 1083 | 41 (61.2) | < 0.001 |
Arrived by ambulance | 269 (24.8) | 36 (53.7) | < 0.001 |
Emergency department transfer | 62 (5.7) n = 1085 | 6 (9.0) | 0.3 |
Question from physical examination |
Neck stiffness (flexion/extension) | 39 (3.7) n = 1043 | 14 (21.5) n = 65 | < 0.001 |
Body temperature, mean (SD); °C | 36.2 (0.7) n = 1042 | 36.2 (0.8) n = 64 | 0.4 |
Heart rate, mean (SD); beats/min | 78.6 (14.8) n = 1081 | 77.1 (16.3) n = 66 | 0.4 |
Systolic blood pressure, mean (SD); mm Hg | 140.6 (23.2) n = 1081 | 157.6 (28.1) | < 0.001 |
Diastolic blood pressure, mean (SD); mm Hg | 81.7 (13.1) n = 1080 | 84.9 (15.4) | 0.05 |
Computed tomography ordered | 937 (86.3) | 67 (100.0) | < 0.001 |
Lumbar puncture performed | 444 (40.9) | 8 (11.9) | < 0.001 |