[The importance of headaches in neurology clinics. Study groups of neurologists of Aragon].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the patients sent to Neurology Clinics for headache and to investigate the differences in epidemiology, clinical findings and therapeutics as compared with those consulting for other neurological disorders.


METHODS
Eighteen neurologists from all the Outpatient Departments of the Community of Aragon Health Service were analysed using a specially designed questionnaire for all the patients who attended the Neurology Clinics for the first time during a period of three months.


RESULTS
Of 3,489 patients assessed, 25.5% complained of headache. Of these, 70% were women of an average age of 41.2 +/- 18.8 years. In 42% the consultation was for migraine followed by chronic tension headache in 30.1%. Family doctors sent 86.7% of the patients and requested complementary tests for 31.1%. Cerebral TAC (12.4%) and EEG (7.6%) were the investigations most often requested. Treatment was given to 68.6% of the patients with headache. Calcium-antagonists and anti-depressants were the drugs most used.


CONCLUSIONS
Headache is the commonest cause for consulting a neurologist. It affects young adults, with marked predominance of the female sex. There are significative differences in clinical attention (fewer complementary tests are requested and less follow-up is necessary, although more treatment is given) than for other neurology patients.
Gracia-Naya
M
M
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España. gracia.naya@meditex.es
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009462:Neurology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers
Importancia de las cefaleas en las consultas de neurología. Grupo de estudio de Neurólogos Aragoneses.