Management of primary chronic headache in the general population: the Akershus study of chronic headache
Open Access
- 13 October 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in The Journal of Headache and Pain
- Vol. 13 (2), 113-120
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-011-0391-8
Abstract
Primary chronic headaches cause more disability and necessitate high utilisation of health care. Our knowledge is based on selected populations, while information from the general population is largely lacking. An age and gender-stratified cross-sectional epidemiological survey included 30,000 persons aged 30–44 years. Respondents with self-reported chronic headache were interviewed by physicians. The International Classification of Headache Disorders was used. Of all primary chronic headache sufferers, 80% had consulted their general practitioner (GP), of these 19% had also consulted a neurologist and 4% had been hospitalised. Co-occurrence of migraine increased the probability of contact with a physician. A high Severity of Dependence Scale score increased the probability for contact with a physician. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was used by 62%, most often physiotherapy, acupuncture and chiropractic. Contact with a physician increased the probability of use of CAM. Acute headache medications were taken by 87%, while only 3% used prophylactic medication. GPs manage the majority of those with primary chronic headache, 1/5 never consults a physician for their headache, while approximately 1/5 is referred to a neurologist or hospitalised. Acute headache medication was frequently overused, while prophylactic medication was rarely used. Thus, avoidance of acute headache medication overuse and increased use of prophylactic medication may improve the management of primary chronic headaches in the future.Keywords
This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Severity of Dependence Scale detects people with medication overuse: the Akershus study of chronic headacheJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2009
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use by Primary Care Patients with Chronic PainPain Medicine, 2008
- Epidemiology and comorbidity of headacheThe Lancet Neurology, 2008
- The use of CAM and conventional treatments among primary care consulters with chronic musculoskeletal painBMC Family Practice, 2007
- The Comorbidity of Headache With Other Pain SyndromesHeadache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 2006
- Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Patients With Chronic Tension‐Type Headache: Results of a Headache Clinic SurveyHeadache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 2006
- Secular Changes in Health Care Utilization and Work Absence for Migraine and Tension-type Headache: A Population Based StudyEuropean Journal of Epidemiology, 2005
- Prevalence, Pattern and Predictors of use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Migraine Patients Attending a Headache Clinic in ItalyCephalalgia, 2005
- Which complementary and alternative therapies benefit which conditions? A survey of the opinions of 223 professional organizationsComplementary Therapies in Medicine, 2001
- Classification of Daily and Near‐Daily Headaches: Proposed Revisions to the IHS CriteriaHeadache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 1994