The epidemiology of headache disorders: a face-to-face interview of participants in HUNT4

Knut Hagen,Erling Tronvik,Benjamin L. Uhlig,Eiliv Brenner,Trond Sand,Gøril Bruvik Gravdahl,Anders Nikolai Åsberg,Grethe Helde,Marit Stjern

doi:10.1186/s10194-018-0854-2

Abstract

BackgroundThe primary aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to evaluate the 1-year prevalence of common headache disorders by a face-to-face interview.MethodsThe fourth wave of Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey (HUNT4) started in September 2017. The study was undertaken as part of a project mainly focusing on sleep disorders, where a total of 232 (19.3%) out of 1200 invited HUNT4 participants underwent a face-to-face headache interview.ResultsThe mean age of the 232 participants was 58.4 years (range 22–89). There were 71.6% (95% CI 65.7–77.4) who reported headache during the last year, and 18.5% (95% CI 13.5–23.6) had suffered from headache in the same period. The 1-year prevalence of tension-type headache (TTH) was 43.1% (95% CI 36.7–49.5), of idiopathic stabbing headache 34.1% (27.9–40.2), and of definite migraine 18.1% (95% CI 13.1–23.1). A total of 7.6% (95% CI 4.0–10.7%) had migraine with coexisting TTH. Lifetime prevalence of migraine was 32.8% (95% CI 26.7–38.8). Headache yesterday was reported by 12.1% (95% CI 7.9–16.3), and 5.6% (95% CI 2.6–8.6) had headache during the interview.ConclusionIn this population-based cross-sectional headache study performed by a face-to-face interview, the 1-year prevalence of TTH was 43.1% and of idiopathic stabbing headache 34.1%. A total of 18.1% had active migraine (18.1%), whereas the lifetime prevalence of migraine was 32.8%.

Highlights

The primary aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to evaluate the 1-year prevalence of common headache disorders by a face-to-face interview
The 1-year prevalence of tension-type headache (TTH) was 43.1%, of idiopathic stabbing headache 34.1% (27.9–40.2), and of definite migraine 18.1%
A total of 7.6% had migraine with coexisting TTH

Summary

Introduction

The primary aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to evaluate the 1-year prevalence of common headache disorders by a face-to-face interview. A careful history taken by a headache specialist is the gold-standard for making a valid headache diagnosis. This is, time-consuming and costly, relatively few large population-based studies have used a face-to-face interview approach [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. We have done two face-to-face headache interviews in the general population to validate questionnaire-based diagnosis with diagnosis made by a headache specialist [6, 12] This is the overall goal by performing face-to-face interviews, but access to questionnaire-data will first be available during 2019

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