Abstract
BackgroundSocioeconomic status plays an important role in pain coping strategy. Its influence on migraine and tension-type headache may differ by gender. This study aimed to evaluate how socioeconomic status affects the prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache by gender.MethodsWe used data from the Korean Headache Survey, a population-based sample of Koreans aged 19–69 years. Education level, district size, and household income were evaluated as socioeconomic variables.ResultsAmong 1507 participants, the 1-year prevalence rates of migraine and tension-type headache were 8.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-4.6%] and 29.1% (95% CI 25.7-32.5%) in women and 3.2% (95% CI 1.9-4.6%) and 32.5% (95% CI 29.1-35.9%) in men, respectively. In women, multiple regression analysis found that living in rural areas was related to higher prevalence of migraine [odds ratio (OR) 4.52, 95% CI 1.85-11.02] and lower prevalence of tension-type headache (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.15–0.58) and college-level education was related to lower prevalence of tension-type headache (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.18–0.74). In men, multiple regression analysis failed to reveal significant influences of any socioeconomic variable on the prevalence of migraine or tension-type headache.ConclusionsThe influence of socioeconomic status on migraine and tension-type headache differs by gender, with women being more susceptible to socioeconomic influence.
Highlights
Socioeconomic status plays an important role in pain coping strategy
Socioeconomic status (SES) has been found to have an important role in pain coping strategy, so gender inequalities may influence the prevalence of migraine or tension-type headache (TTH) [1]
Among 1507 participants, the 1-year prevalence rates of migraine and tension-type headache were 8.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-4.6%] and 29.1% in women and 3.2% and 32.5% in men, respectively
Summary
Socioeconomic status plays an important role in pain coping strategy. This study aimed to evaluate how socioeconomic status affects the prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache by gender. Previous studies about the influence of SES on migraine or tension-type headache (TTH) were inconclusive [3,4,5,6]. These discrepancies may be related to cultural aspects of society or design of the study. SES has been found to have an important role in pain coping strategy, so gender inequalities may influence the prevalence of migraine or TTH [1]. Previous studies on the influence of SES on primary headache disorders have been conducted in Europe or the USA, but rare in Asian countries
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