Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2017 | Short report
Excessive daytime sleepiness in secondary chronic headache from the general population
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2017
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Background
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS, defined as Epworth sleepiness scale score > 10) is a common symptom, with a prevalence of 10–20% in the general population. It is associated with headache and other chronic pain disorders. However, little is known about the prevalence of EDS among people with secondary chronic headaches.
Findings
A total of 30,000 persons aged 30–44 from the general population was screened for headache by a questionnaire. The 633 eligible participants with self-reported chronic headache were interviewed and examined by a headache specialist who applied the International Classification of Headache Disorders with supplementary definitions for chronic rhinosinusitis and cervicogenic headache. A total of 93 participants had secondary chronic headache and completed the ESS.
A total of 47 participants had chronic post-traumatic headache (CPTH) and/or cervicogenic headache (CEH), 39 participants had headache attributed to chronic rhinosinusitis (HACRS), while 7 had other secondary headaches. 23.3% of those with CPTH, CEH or HACRS reported EDS. In multivariable logistic regression analysis the odds ratios of EDS were not significantly different in people with CPTH/CEH or HACRS.
Conclusion
Almost one out of four subjects with secondary chronic headache reported EDS with no differences between the various secondary chronic headaches.