The characteristics and subtypes of headache in relation with age and gender in a rural community in Eastern Turkey

Abstract

Headache is a frequent and widespread symptom constituting a major health problem at all age groups, though vast differences are present according to the age and gender, as well as population characteristics. In this hospital-based study, we investigated the characteristics and subtypes of headache with relation to age and gender in a rural community in eastern part of Turkey. A total of 11549 subjects were evaluated, and 4951 patients (42.8%) had headache. The 1-year headache prevalence was 38.6% in children, 47.0% in adults, and 23.3% in elderly (p<0.001). The female to male ratio was higher in adults (p<0.001) and elderly headache patients (p<0.001), but not in children (p=0.654). The most common diagnosis was frequent episodic tension-type headache in all. The headache attributed to epileptic seizure and rhinosinusitis were about three times more common in children, while chronic tension-type headache was about three times more common in adults and elderly. While 60% of patients with migraine were male in children, about 80% of patients were females in adults. The understanding of the epidemiology of headache and subtypes is important as it constitutes one of the major health problems due to its high prevalence at all age groups.