Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim was to study the extent and type of health service utilisation, medication habits, and sickness absence due to the primary headaches. DESIGN--This was a cross sectional epidemiological survey of headache disorders in a general population. Headache was diagnosed according to a structured interview and a neurological examination using the criteria of the International Headache Society. SETTING--A random sample of 25-64 year-old individuals was drawn from the Danish National Central Person Registry. All subjects were living in the Copenhagen County. PARTICIPANTS--740 subjects participated (76% of the sample); 119 had migraine and 578 had tension type headache. MAIN RESULTS--Among subjects with migraine 56% had, at some time, consulted their general practitioner because of the migraine. The corresponding percentage among subjects with tension type headache was 16. One or more specialists had been consulted by 16% of migraine sufferers and by 4% of subjects with tension type headache. The consultation rates of chiropractors and physiotherapists were 5-8%. Hospital admissions and supplementary laboratory investigations due to headache were rare (< 3%). Half of the migraine sufferers and 83% of subjects with tension type headache in the previous year had managed with at least one type of drug in the current year. Acetylsalicylic acid preparations and paracetamol were the most commonly used analgesics. Prophylaxis of migraine was used by 7%. In the preceding year 43% of employed migraine sufferers and 12% of employed subjects with tension type headache had missed one or more days of work because of headache. Most common was 1-7 days off work. The total loss of workdays per year due to migraine in the general population was estimated at 270 days per 1000 persons. For tension type headache the corresponding figure was 820. Women were more likely to consult a practitioner than men, whereas no significant sex difference emerged as regards absenteeism from work. CONCLUSIONS--The impact of the headache disorders on work performance in the general population is substantial, and the disorders merit increased attention.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Benassi G., D'Alessandro R., Lenzi P. L., Manzaroli D., Baldrati A., Lugaresi E. The economic burden of headache: an epidemiological study in the Republic of San Marino. Headache. 1986 Oct;26(9):457–459. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1986.hed2609457.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ekbom K., Ahlborg B., Schéle R. Prevalence of migraine and cluster headache in Swedish men of 18. Headache. 1978 Mar;18(1):9–19. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1978.hed1801009.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hollnagel H., Nørrelund N. Hovedpine blandt 40-årige i Glostrup. En epidemiologisk undersøgelse. Ugeskr Laeger. 1980 Nov 10;142(46):3071–3077. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Linet M. S., Stewart W. F., Celentano D. D., Ziegler D., Sprecher M. An epidemiologic study of headache among adolescents and young adults. JAMA. 1989 Apr 21;261(15):2211–2216. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Newland C. A., Illis L. S., Robinson P. K., Batchelor B. G., Waters W. E. A survey of headache in an English city. Res Clin Stud Headache. 1978;5:1–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nikiforow R. Headache medication habits in Northern Finland. Headache. 1980 Sep;20(5):274–278. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1980.hed2005274.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nikiforow R., Hokkanen E. Effects of headache on working ability: a survey of an urban and a rural population in Northern Finland. Headache. 1979 May;19(4):214–218. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1979.hed1904214.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- OGDEN H. D. Headache studies; statistical data. I. Procedure and sample distribution. J Allergy. 1952 Jan;23(1):58–75. doi: 10.1016/0021-8707(52)90074-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rasmussen B. K., Jensen R., Schroll M., Olesen J. Epidemiology of headache in a general population--a prevalence study. J Clin Epidemiol. 1991;44(11):1147–1157. doi: 10.1016/0895-4356(91)90147-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Waters W. E., O'Connor P. J. Epidemiology of headache and migraine in women. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1971 Apr;34(2):148–153. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.34.2.148. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]