The relationship between headache and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder in the general population.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the relationship between headache and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in a general population, and to assess whether there are specific symptoms associated with headache.


METHODS
A personal interview survey conducted in 1995 on 483 adult subjects from the metropolitan community of Segrate, northern Italy.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of headache in the past year was 21.2%. The prevalence of temporomandibular symptoms was 54.3%. Headache occurred significantly more in females than males (26.5 vs 15.4%), and in subjects with, rather than without, symptoms of TMD (27.4 vs 15.2%). Among symptoms, temporomandibular pain, temporomandibular joint sounds, and pain on movements of the jaw were associated with headache using a univariate analysis. After adjustment for confounding variables, a multiple logistic regression confirmed a significant relationship of headache with temporomandibular pain (OR 1.83, 95% CI, 1.07-3.15).


CONCLUSIONS
In the general adult population there is an association between headache and symptoms of TMD. A functional evaluation of the stomatognathic system should be therefore considered in subjects with unexplained headache, even if chronic conditions and mechanical symptoms of temporomandibular disorder are absent.
Ciancaglini
R
R
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Milan, Via Olgettina 60, I-20132, Milan, Italy.
Radaelli
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology