The Epidemiology of Exertional Headache in the General Population of Tehran, Iran Publisher Pubmed



Rabiee B¹ ; Mohammadinejad P¹ ; Kordi R^{1, 3} ; Yunesian M² Show Affiliations
Source: Headache Published:2015

Abstract

Objective In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence and characteristics of primary exertional headache (EH) among the Iranian general population living in Tehran, the capital city of the country. Background Headache is the most common complaint and is listed in the top 10 most disabling conditions. Epidemiological researches on headache can demonstrate its actual burden. There are still limited data on EH, especially in Iran and the Middle East. Methods A Persian questionnaire was designed based on the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria of headache disorders (ICHD-II). Face-to-face interviews were performed by 5 trained medical interns on a sample size of 2300 people. Results Data for a total number of 2076 subjects were enrolled for final analysis. The mean age of the subjects at the time of the study was 36.3-±-14.6 years. The 1-year prevalence of EH was 7.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.2-8.4%). The prevalence of EH was significantly higher in females compared to males (10.0% vs 5.4%, P-<-.001). The mean age of the subjects with EH was 32-±-12.1 years. None of our EH patients received medical consult prior to the study. Conclusion EH seems to be less prevalent among the Iranian population compared to previous studies. © 2015 American Headache Society.