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Has the prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache changed over a 12-year period? A Danish population survey

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Abstract

Objective

The present study aims to compare the prevalence of primary headaches in Denmark in two periods as only few replicate studies have re-evaluated the prevalence of primary headaches.

Study Design and Setting

The 2001 study is a replicate of a cross-sectional survey of primary headaches in 1989, and compares 297 subjects aged 25–36 years from the general population, with the 294 comparable subjects invited in 1989. Medical doctors diagnosed all headaches using IHS-classification.

Results

The participation rate was 75% in 1989 and 70% in 2001. The prevalence of migraine did not change significantly (11–15%), while the prevalence of tension-type headache (79–87%), especially of frequent tension-type headache (29–37%) increased significantly. The prevalence of chronic tension-type headache (2–5%) tended to increase. The proportion of the migraineurs with migraine 14 days or more per year increased (12–38%). Female gender was a risk factor for both primary headaches. The majority of migraineurs (92–94%) also reported coexistent tension-type headache.

Conclusion

The prevalence of tension-type headache but not of migraine increased. The increase in migraine and tension-type headache frequency suggests a higher individual and societal impact of primary headaches now, than 12 years ago.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup

    Ann Christine Lyngberg & Torben Jørgensen

  2. Department of Neurology, Hilleroed Hospital, Hilleroed

    Birthe K. Rasmussen

  3. Danish Headache Centre, Department of Neurology, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark

    Rigmor Jensen

  4. Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Ndr. Ringvej 57, Building 84/85, DK-2600, Glostrup, Denmark

    Ann Christine Lyngberg & Ann Christine Lyngberg

Authors
  1. Ann Christine Lyngberg
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  2. Birthe K. Rasmussen
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  3. Torben Jørgensen
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  4. Rigmor Jensen
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Correspondence to Ann Christine Lyngberg.

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Lyngberg, A.C., Rasmussen, B.K., Jørgensen, T. et al. Has the prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache changed over a 12-year period? A Danish population survey. Eur J Epidemiol 20, 243–249 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-6519-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-6519-2

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