Sociodemographic factors and primary headache syndromes in a Saudi community.
OBJECTIVE
There is increasing evidence that the pathophysiologic mechanisms are different between migraine and tension-type headache. The aim of the study was to determine possible sociodemographic differences in Saudi Arabia subjects with headache.


METHODS
A community-based door-to-door survey with identification of headache cases based on IHS criteria. A comparison of sociodemographic variables was made between subjects with migraine and tension-type headache.


RESULTS
Headache prevalence was 8% (95% CI = 7.3-8.7%) with a preponderance of tension-type headache (39%). Females were more often affected than males (ratio 2:1). Migraine subjects were more often in the professional occupational group compared with tension-type headache (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Headache prevalence in the community was low. Subjects with migraine and tension-type headache were similar with respect to many demographic variables. Occupational association needs verification in further studies.
Abdul Jabbar
M
M
King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ogunniyi
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000453:epidemiology