Caffeine as a risk factor for chronic daily headache: a population-based study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the possible association of dietary caffeine consumption and medicinal caffeine use with chronic daily headache (CDH).

METHODS:

Population-based cases and controls were recruited from the Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA, metropolitan areas. Controls (n = 507) reported 2 to 104 headache days/year, and cases (n = 206) reported > or =180 headache days/year. Current and past dietary caffeine consumption and medication use for headache were based on detailed self-report. High caffeine exposure was defined as being in the upper quartile of dietary consumption or using a caffeine-containing over-the-counter analgesic as the preferred headache treatment.

RESULTS:

In comparison with episodic headache controls, CDH cases were more likely overall to have been high caffeine consumers before onset of CDH (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50, p = 0.05). No association was found for current caffeine consumption (i.e., post CDH) (OR = 1.36, p = 0.12). In secondary analyses, associations were confined to younger (age <40) women (OR = 2.0, p = 0.02) and those with chronic episodic (as opposed to chronic continuous) headaches (OR = 1.69, p = 0.01), without physician consultation (OR = 1.67, p = 0.04) and of recent (<2 years) onset (OR = 1.67, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION:

Dietary and medicinal caffeine consumption appears to be a modest risk factor for chronic daily headache onset, regardless of headache type.

• Authors: Ann I Scher, Walter F Stewart, Richard B Lipton
• Journal: Neurology (Neurology) Vol. 63 Issue 11 Pg. 2022-7 (Dec 14 2004) ISSN: 1526-632X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 15596744 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Pharmaceutical Preparations
• Caffeine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Analgesics (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Beverages
• Caffeine (adverse effects)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Headache Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology, etiology)
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pharmaceutical Preparations
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• United States (epidemiology)