Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
The Journal of Headache and Pain
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Prevalence of primary headache disorders in a population aged 60 years and older in a rural area of Northern China

Authors: Yajing Zhang, Zhihong Shi, Duncan Hock, Wei Yue, Shuling Liu, Ying Zhang, Shuai Liu, Lei Zhao, Hui Lu, Yalin Guan, Xiaodan Wang, Thomas Wsiniewski, Yong Ji

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Primary headache disorders are among the most common neurological complaints worldwide, and are significant causes of disability. Data are limited on the prevalence of primary headaches among individuals aged 60 years and older in China. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of primary headaches among people aged 60 years and older in a rural area of northern China.

Methods

A door-to-door survey was conducted in Ji County of Tianjin Province. A total of 5248 residents aged 60 years and older were visited from 2014 to 2015, unannounced, and basic sociodemographic and headache diagnostic information was collected via a questionnaire. Primary headache was classified tension-type headaches, migraines, chronic headache, and unclassified headache.

Results

The 1-year prevalence for primary headaches in Ji county is 10.30 %. The 1-year prevalence of tension-type headaches, migraines, chronic headache, and unclassified headache is 2.02 %, 0.85 %, 3.79 %, and 3.63 %. The 1-year prevalence of primary headache was higher in women than in men. The 1-year prevalence of primary headache was decreased with increasing age. The 1-year prevalence of tension-type headaches and chronic headache were decreased with higher education. Headache in the elderly was mild to moderate and not serious.

Conclusions

In a population older than 60 years of age in rural, northern China, we found the 1-year prevalence of primary headache was 10.30 %, of tension-type headaches was 2.02 %, of migraines was 0.85 %, of chronic headache was 3.79 %, and of unclassified headache was 3.63 %. The prevalence of all of these was much lower than those observed in previous studies examining prevalence rates in the general population. The results of our study also indicated that women are more likely to have primary headache than men. We also found that chronic headache was frequent among the elderly. Participants with higher education levels were more predisposed than healthy participants to tension-type headaches. We also found that respondents who did not participate in social activities had a decreased predisposition for primary headache in general, as well as for unclassified headache. Lastly, we found that participants who had heart disease were more likely than healthy participants to experience primary headache, tension-type headache, chronic headache, and unclassified headache.
Literature
1.
Stovner L, Hagen K, Jensen R, Katsarava Z, Lipton R, Scher A et al (2007) The global burden of headache: a documentation of headache prevalence and disability worldwide. Cephalalgia 27:193–210CrossRefPubMed
2.
Vos T, Flaxman AD, Naghavi M, Lozano R, Michaud C, Ezzati M et al (2012) Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 380:2163–2196CrossRefPubMed
3.
4.
Peng KP, Wang SJ (2014) Epidemiology of headache disorders in the Asia-pacific region. Headache 54:610–618CrossRefPubMed
5.
Stovner LJ, Zwart JA, Hagen K, Terwindt GM, Pascual J (2006) Epidemiology of headache in Europe. Eur J Neurol 13:333–345CrossRefPubMed
6.
Yu S, Liu R, Zhao G, Yang X, Qiao X, Feng J et al (2012) The prevalence and burden of primary headaches in China: a population-based door-to-door survey. Headache 52:582–591CrossRefPubMed
7.
Liu R, Yu S, He M, Zhao G, Yang X, Qiao X et al (2013) Health-care utilization for primary headache disorders in China: a population-based door-to-door survey. J Headache Pain 14:47CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Prencipe M, Casini AR, Ferretti C, Santini M, Pezzella F, Scaldaferri N et al (2001) Prevalence of headache in an elderly population: attack frequency, disability, and use of medication. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 70:377–381CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Miranda H, Ortiz G, Figueroa S, Pena D, Guzman J (2003) Prevalence of headache in Puerto Rico. Headache 43:774–778CrossRefPubMed
10.
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) (2013) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version). Cephalalgia 33:629–808CrossRef
11.
Yu SY, Cao XT, Zhao G, Yang XS, Qiao XY, Fang YN et al (2011) The burden of headache in China: validation of diagnostic questionnaire for a population-based survey. J Headache Pain 12:141–146CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
13.
Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Sliwinski M (1996) Classification of daily and near-daily headaches: field trial of revised IHS criteria. Neurology 47:871–875CrossRefPubMed
14.
Alders EE, Hentzen A, Tan CT (1996) A community-based prevalence study on headache in Malaysia. Headache 36:379–384CrossRefPubMed
15.
Roh JK, Kim JS, Ahn YO (1998) Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of migraine and tension-type headache in Korea. Headache 38:356–365CrossRefPubMed
16.
Gobel H, Petersen-Braun M, Soyka D (1994) The epidemiology of headache in Germany: a nationwide survey of a representative sample on the basis of the headache classification of the International Headache Society. Cephalalgia 14:97–106CrossRefPubMed
17.
Rasmussen BK (1995) Epidemiology of headache. Cephalalgia 15:45–68PubMed
18.
19.
20.
Ruiz M, Pedraza MI, de la Cruz C, Baron J, Munoz I, Rodriguez C et al (2014) Headache in the elderly: characteristics in a series of 262 patients. Neurologia 29:321–326CrossRefPubMed
21.
Camarda R, Monastero R (2003) Prevalence of primary headaches in Italian elderly: preliminary data from the Zabut Aging Project. Neurol Sci 24(Suppl 2):S122–S124PubMed
22.
Schwaiger J, Kiechl S, Seppi K, Sawires M, Stockner H, Erlacher T et al (2009) Prevalence of primary headaches and cranial neuralgias in men and women aged 55–94 years (Bruneck Study). Cephalalgia 29:179–187CrossRefPubMed
23.
Crystal SC, Grosberg BM (2009) Tension-type headache in the elderly. Curr Pain Headache Rep 13:474–478CrossRefPubMed
24.
25.
Celik Y, Ekuklu G, Tokuc B, Utku U (2005) Migraine prevalence and some related factors in Turkey. Headache 45:32–36CrossRefPubMed
26.
Wang SJ, Fuh JL, Young YH, Lu SR, Shia BC (2000) Prevalence of migraine in Taipei, Taiwan: a population-based survey. Cephalalgia 20:566–572CrossRefPubMed
27.
Cheung RT (2000) Prevalence of migraine, tension-type headache, and other headaches in Hong Kong. Headache 40:473–479CrossRefPubMed
28.
Takeshima T, Ishizaki K, Fukuhara Y, Ijiri T, Kusumi M, Wakutani Y et al (2004) Population-based door-to-door survey of migraine in Japan: the Daisen study. Headache 44:8–19CrossRefPubMed
29.
Victor TW, Hu X, Campbell JC, Buse DC, Lipton RB (2010) Migraine prevalence by age and sex in the United States: a life-span study. Cephalalgia 30:1065–1072CrossRefPubMed
30.
Bigal ME, Liberman JN, Lipton RB (2006) Age-dependent prevalence and clinical features of migraine. Neurology 67:246–251CrossRefPubMed
31.
Martins KM, Bordini CA, Bigal ME, Speciali JG (2006) Migraine in the elderly: a comparison with migraine in young adults. Headache 46:312–316CrossRefPubMed
32.
Yoon MS, Katsarava Z, Obermann M, Fritsche G, Oezyurt M, Kaesewinkel K et al (2012) Prevalence of primary headaches in Germany: results of the German Headache Consortium Study. J Headache Pain 13:215–223CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
33.
Wang SJ, Liu HC, Fuh JL, Liu CY, Lin KP, Chen HM et al (1997) Prevalence of headaches in a Chinese elderly population in Kinmen: age and gender effect and cross-cultural comparisons. Neurology 49:195–200CrossRefPubMed
34.
Cheng X (1990) Epidemiologic survey of migraine in six cities of China. Zhonghua Shen Jing Jing Shen Ke Za Zhi 23:44–46, 64PubMed
35.
Zhao F, Tsay JY, Cheng XM, Wong WJ, Li SC, Yao SX et al (1988) Epidemiology of migraine: a survey in 21 provinces of the People’s Republic of China, 1985. Headache 28:558–565CrossRefPubMed
36.
Wong TW, Wong KS, Yu TS, Kay R (1995) Prevalence of migraine and other headaches in Hong Kong. Neuroepidemiology 14:82–91CrossRefPubMed
37.
Crystal SC, Robbins MS (2010) Epidemiology of tension-type headache. Curr Pain Headache Rep 14:449–454CrossRefPubMed
38.
Robbins MS, Lipton RB (2010) The epidemiology of primary headache disorders. Semin Neurol 30:107–119CrossRefPubMed
39.
40.
Mbewe E, Zairemthiama P, Yeh HH, Paul R, Birbeck GL, Steiner TJ (2015) The epidemiology of primary headache disorders in Zambia: a population-based door-to-door survey. J Headache Pain 16:515PubMed
41.
Langemark M, Olesen J, Poulsen DL, Bech P (1988) Clinical characterization of patients with chronic tension headache. Headache 28:590–596CrossRefPubMed
42.
Katsarava Z, Dzagnidze A, Kukava M, Mirvelashvili E, Djibuti M, Janelidze M et al (2009) Primary headache disorders in the Republic of Georgia: prevalence and risk factors. Neurology 73:1796–1803CrossRefPubMed
43.
Wang SJ, Fuh JL, Lu SR, Liu CY, Hsu LC, Wang PN et al (2000) Chronic daily headache in Chinese elderly: prevalence, risk factors, and biannual follow-up. Neurology 54:314–319CrossRefPubMed
44.
Dent W, Spiss H, Helbok R, Matuja W, Scheunemann S, Schmutzhard E (2004) Prevalence of migraine in a rural area in South Tanzania: a door-to-door survey. Cephalalgia 24:960–966CrossRefPubMed
45.
Tekle Haimanot R, Seraw B, Forsgren L, Ekbom K, Ekstedt J (1995) Migraine, chronic tension-type headache, and cluster headache in an Ethiopian rural community. Cephalalgia 15:482–488CrossRefPubMed
46.
Sachs H, Sevilla F, Barberis P, Bolis L, Schoenberg B, Cruz M (1985) Headache in the rural village of Quiroga, Ecuador. Headache 25:190–193CrossRefPubMed
47.
Le H, Tfelt-Hansen P, Skytthe A, Kyvik KO, Olesen J (2011) Association between migraine, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors: a population-based cross-sectional study. J Headache Pain 12:157–172CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
48.
Yu S, Liu R, Yang X, Zhao G, Qiao X, Feng J et al (2012) Body mass index and migraine: a survey of the Chinese adult population. J Headache Pain 13:531–536CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
49.
Takele GM, Tekle Haimanot R, Martelletti P (2008) Prevalence and burden of primary headache in Akaki textile mill workers, Ethiopia. J Headache Pain 9:119–128CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
50.
Bendtsen L, Jensen R (2006) Tension-type headache: the most common, but also the most neglected, headache disorder. Curr Opin Neurol 19:305–309PubMed
51.
Sacco S, Ornello R, Ripa P, Tiseo C, Degan D, Pistoia F et al (2015) Migraine and risk of ischaemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Eur J Neurol 22:1001–1011CrossRefPubMed
52.
Costopoulos C (2011) Acute coronary syndromes can be a headache. Emeerg Med J 28:71–73CrossRef
53.
Winsvold BS, Hagen K, Aamodt AH, Stovner LJ, Holmen J, Zwart JA (2011) Headache, migraine and cardiovascular risk factors: the HUNT study. Eur J Neurol 18:504–511CrossRefPubMed
54.
Bigal ME, Kurth T, Santanello N, Buse D, Golden W, Robbins M et al (2010) Migraine and cardiovascular disease: a population-based study. Neurology 74:628–635CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
55.
Gudmundsson LS, Scher AI, Aspelund T, Eliasson JH, Johannsson M, Thorgeirsson G et al (2010) Migraine with aura and risk of cardiovascular and all cause mortality in men and women: prospective cohort study. BMJ 341:c3966CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
56.
Kurth T, Schurks M, Logroscino G, Gaziano JM, Buring JE (2008) Migraine, vascular risk, and cardiovascular events in women: prospective cohort study. BMJ 337:a636CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
57.
Liew G, Wang JJ, Mitchell P (2007) Migraine and coronary heart disease mortality: a prospective cohort study. Cephalalgia 27:368–371CrossRefPubMed
58.
59.
Rosamond W (2004) Are migraine and coronary heart disease associated? An epidemiologic review. Headache 44(Suppl 1):S5–S12CrossRefPubMed
60.
Kudrow L (1976) Prevalence of migraine, peptic ulcer, coronary heart disease and hypertension in cluster headache. Headache 16:66–69CrossRefPubMed
61.
Winsvold BS, Nelson CP, Malik R, Gormley P, Anttila V, Vander Heiden J et al (2015) Genetic analysis for a shared biological basis between migraine and coronary artery disease. Neurol Genet 1:e10CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Prevalence of primary headache disorders in a population aged 60 years and older in a rural area of Northern China
Authors
Yajing Zhang
Zhihong Shi
Duncan Hock
Wei Yue
Shuling Liu
Ying Zhang
Shuai Liu
Lei Zhao
Hui Lu
Yalin Guan
Xiaodan Wang
Thomas Wsiniewski
Yong Ji
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-016-0672-3

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

The Journal of Headache and Pain 1/2015 Go to the issue

Research article

Headaches attributed to airplane travel: a Danish survey

Research article

Headache: an important factor associated with muscle soreness/pain at the two-year follow-up point among patients with major depressive disorder

Research article

A genome-wide analysis in cluster headache points to neprilysin and PACAP receptor gene variants

Research article

A two years open-label prospective study of OnabotulinumtoxinA 195 U in medication overuse headache: a real-world experience

Erratum

Erratum to: Right fronto-insular white matter tracts link cognitive reserve and pain in migraine patients

Research article

Biofeedback in the prophylactic treatment of medication overuse headache: a pilot randomized controlled trial