Migraine prevalence in adolescents aged 13-15: a student population-based study in Taiwan.
To estimate the lifetime migraine prevalence in school adolescents aged 13-15 in Taiwan, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey in four sampled public junior high schools. Migraine was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. A total of 4064 students (1983 boys, 2081 girls) completed the questionnaire (response rate 91.6%). The lifetime prevalence of migraine was 6.8%. It was significantly higher in girls than boys (7.8% vs. 5.7%) and increased with age in both sexes. Students with migraine were more likely to be absent from school because of their headaches than those with non-migraine headaches (30% vs. 14%, odds ratio (OR) 2.7). They were also more likely to use painkillers for their headaches than their non-migraine headache peers (72% vs. 40%, OR 4.0). These results suggest that migraine is a common disorder of adolescents in Taiwan and its impact on the quality of life can not be ignored.
Lu
S R
SR
Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Department of Neurology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taiwan.
Fuh
J L
JL
Juang
K D
KD
Wang
S J
SJ
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D000700:Analgesics