Chronic daily headache in Chinese elderly: prevalence, risk factors, and biannual follow-up.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of chronic daily headache (CDH) in a population of elderly Chinese subjects.

METHODS:

A community-based survey of registered residents > or =65 years old (n = 2,003) in two townships of Kinmen Island in 1993. A neurologist used a structured questionnaire and clinical interview to make the diagnosis of headache. Subjects who had headaches > or =15 days/month for > or =6 months in the previous year were considered to have CDH. CDH was further classified into chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), CDH with migrainous features (CDH/MF), and other CDH. Person-to-person biannual follow-up of the subjects with CDH was done in June 1995 and August 1997.

RESULTS:

A total of 1,533 people (77%) participated in our prevalence study. Sixty subjects (3.9%) fulfilled the criteria for CDH, with a higher prevalence in women (F/M: 5.6%/1.8%, p < 0.001). Of these subjects, 42 (70%) had CTTH, 15 (25%) had CDH/MF, and 3 (5%) had other CDH. Only 23% of those with CDH had consulted physicians for their headaches in the previous year. Multivariate logistic regression revealed the significant risk factors for CDH to be analgesic overuse (OR = 79), a history of migraine (OR = 6.6), and a Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form score of > or =8 (OR = 2.6). The follow-up results in 1995 and 1997 showed that about two-thirds of the subjects still had CDH. Analgesic overuse (relative risk = 1.6) in 1993 was a significant predictor of persistent CDH at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS:

A total of 3.9% of this elderly population had CDH, with CTTH being the most common subtype. Almost two-thirds of those with CDH had persistent frequent headaches at follow-up. Analgesic overuse was a significant predictor of a poor outcome.

• Authors: S J Wang, J L Fuh, S R Lu, C Y Liu, L C Hsu, P N Wang, H C Liu
• Journal: Neurology (Neurology) Vol. 54 Issue 2 Pg. 314-9 (Jan 25 2000) ISSN: 0028-3878 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10668689 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics

Topics

• Aged (statistics & numerical data)
• Analgesics (administration & dosage)
• Asian People
• Chronic Disease
• Depression (epidemiology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Migraine Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• Prognosis
• Risk Factors
• Sex Distribution
• Taiwan (epidemiology)
• Tension-Type Headache (drug therapy, epidemiology)