Symptomatic and nonsymptomatic headaches in a general population

Abstract

We assessed the lifetime prevalences of headache disorders in a cross-sectional epidemiologic survey of a representative 25- to 64-year-old general population. We classified the headaches on the basis of a clinical interview and a physical and neurologic examination using the operational diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. Lifetime prevalence of idiopathic stabbing headache was 2%, of external compression headache 4%, and of cold stimulus headache 15%. Benign cough headache, benign exertional headache, and headache associated with sexual activity each occurred in 1%. Lifetime prevalence of hangover headache was 72%, of fever headache 63%, and of headache associated with disorders of nose or sinuses 15%. Headaches associated with severe structural lesions were rare. External compression headache, fever headache, headache associated with metabolic disorders, and headache associated with disorders of nose or sinuses all showed significant female preponderance. The symptomatic headaches and headaches unassociated with structural lesions were more prevalent among migraineurs. In subjects with tension-type headache, only hangover headache was overrepresented. There was no association between the headache disorders and abnormal routine blood chemistry or arterial hypertension. In women with migraine, however, diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher than in women without migraine.