Copeptin for Risk Stratification in Non-traumatic Headache in the Emergency Setting - The CoHead Study

Headache is a common symptom, and patients often seek medical attention at emergency departments due to headaches. The aim of the CoHead Study is to find out if it is possible by measuring copeptin, a marker of stress in the blood, to find out which patients have simple headaches and which patients have dangerous headaches that are the symptom of an underlying disease and need further investigation and treatment. Copeptin is a marker for physical stress and has been tested in patients with stroke, heart attack and pneumonia. In all these illnesses, the patients with the most serious forms had the highest levels of copeptin, while the ones with only mild presentation or no affection at all had the lowest levels of copeptin. The investigators expect to show the same in patients with headaches.