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The Journal of Headache and Pain
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

High prevalence of headaches in patients with epilepsy

Authors: Xiang-qing Wang, Sen-yang Lang, Mian-wang He, Xu Zhang, Fei Zhu, Wei Dai, Xiao-bing Shi, Min Wan, Yun-feng Ma, Ya-nan Chen, Sheng-yuan Yu

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

To examine the association between headaches and epilepsy.

Methods

Consecutive adult epileptic patients who went to the outpatient clinic of the Epilepsy Center of PLA General Hospital between February 01, 2012, and May 10, 2013, were recruited into this study. A total of 1109 patients with epilepsy completed a questionnaire regarding headaches.

Results

Overall, 60.1% of the patients (male: 57.2%; female: 63.8%) reported headaches within the last year. The age-weighted prevalence of interictal migraine was 11.7% (male 8.9%, female 15.3%), which is higher than that reported in a large population-based study (8.5%, male 5.4%, female 11.6%) using the same screening questions. The prevalence of postictal headaches was 34.1% (males 32.7%, females 35.2%), and the presence of preictal headaches was 4.5% (males 4.3%, females 5.2%). The prevalence of headache yesterday in the general population was 4.8% (male 3.0%, female 6.6%). Thus, the prevalence of headaches, including migraine, is higher in epileptic patients in China.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of postictal headaches confirms the frequent triggering of a headache by a seizure. A much lower frequency of preictal headaches, a condition in which the real triggering effect of the headache on the seizure might be difficult to prove.
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Metadata
Title
High prevalence of headaches in patients with epilepsy
Authors
Xiang-qing Wang
Sen-yang Lang
Mian-wang He
Xu Zhang
Fei Zhu
Wei Dai
Xiao-bing Shi
Min Wan
Yun-feng Ma
Ya-nan Chen
Sheng-yuan Yu
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1129-2377-15-70

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